MANILA — Kiefer Ravena gets a golden opportunity to add another Southeast Asian Games championship to his portfolio as he was named to the Gilas Pilipinas Men team that will play in this year’s SEA Games 5-on-5 basketball event.
The NLEX guard, who was a late addition to the pool following the injury to Jayson Castro, now has a shot for a fifth gold medal as he will be the only SEA Games veteran in a roster full of first-time participants, although most of them are already Gilas veterans.
Junemar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Stanley Pringle, LA Tenorio, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, Matthew Wright, and Christian Standhardinger make up the list of players who have already played for Gilas Men prior to their first SEA Games competition.
On the other hand, two first-time Gilas Men players, Vic Manuel and Chris Ross, complete the Final 12.
“Although the decision was surely not easy, the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) have complete trust in the team,” said SBP president Al Panlilio in a statement.
All the 5-on-5 basketball games will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay beginning Dec. 4, when Gilas Men, who are going for their 14th consecutive gold medal in the competition, host Singapore.
“We’re excited to defend our crown as the best basketball team in the region,” added Panlilio. “We hope that the Filipino basketball fans are as excited as us and that they’ll be there at the games in support of the team.” (PNA)
