Kiefer Ravena has so much confidence in Gilas Pilipinas’ chances in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ third window, strongly believing that his team — made up of PBA vets and Cadets — is very much prepared for the said cage wars.
That, until unfortunate events occurred.
The third window was originally set to take place from Feb. 18-23 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga but got called off due to the country’s travel restrictions last January. The hosting rights then went to Doha, Qatar.
About a couple of weeks ago, however, the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar ordered to cancel all events to be hosted there due to the increasing rates of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country.
It was then believed that the meet might get cancelled but shortly after Qatar’s decision, FIBA Asia said that the games will be held again in Clark following the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ re-bid to play as hosts.
The SBP offered to assume hosting chores again as travel restrictions have eased up in the country. However, there remains a cloud of uncertainty floating above the third window, as the new schedule has yet to be determined.
Ravena couldn’t help but lament what has happened.
“Sayang ‘yung pagod tsaka ‘yung pawis, tsaka ‘yung eagerness na maipakita mo na alam namin na ready na ready na talaga kami eh. ‘Yun po ‘yung parang pinaka-panghihinayang,” he told Power & Play by Noli Eala Saturday.
While all those took place, Ravena and Co. were actually in the midst of their preparations for the tournament, training inside the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna — otherwise known as the ‘Calambubble.’
And all those practices and moments he’d shared with his fellow flagbearers made the Gilas captain excited about how his crew would fare in the window, where they will battle long-time rivals South Korea and Indonesia.
Ravena admitted that there’s actually an extra motivation for him and his team are facing the Koreans. But all of that push and expectations whatsoever will have to wait, as the dates for the third window remain to be known.
“Alam kong may ibubuga eh, alam kong may ipapakita talaga ‘yung team,” he said.
“Excited sana ako para sa ating lahat, na magpakita. Kasi siyempre, South Korea po ‘yung makakalaban, hindi naman biro ‘yun.
“Siyempre, lahat kami… Ang naririnig lang namin is bata ‘yung pinadala, siyempre baka maano sa Korea ng experience, gusto namin i-prove ‘yun otherwise. Kaya dun kami naghihinayang talaga,” he added.
But then, Ravena and Gilas understand that this has really been a period so challenging. All they can do now is simply wait for the newest developments concerning the third window from no less than FIBA.
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