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CLARK FREEPORT – NLEX, playmaker Kiefer Ravena, developed a bulkier physique for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) restart, but his offseason transformation was not a factor in the Road Warriors’ first game in the Philippine Cup on Sunday night.
Ravena, who beefed up her body in time for the PBA restart under a bubble concept, had just six points on a sour 2 of 8 shooting from the field to go with four rebounds and three assists in NLEX’s 92-102 loss. before Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Arena de la Fundación Universitaria Ángeles (AUF) here.
The Gilas Pilipinas stalwart admitted that his poor performance could be attributed to his mental readiness, or lack thereof.
“I have no excuse to play like this. It’s definitely not my condition. It’s not even about the physique change. It’s more the mental side of not being in the present, ”Ravena said.
“I need to have that sense of responsibility and I’ve already talked to the team about it. I promised na ‘di na sya mauulit, ”he added.
The 26-year-old guard didn’t mind the negative reactions about his physical transformation either.
It should be remembered that Ravenna was suspended by FIBA for 18 months after testing positive for three banned substances, which he ingested through a pre-training drink before Gilas’s home game against Japan in the Asian Cup qualifiers. World almost two years ago.
“I will never lose those (bad comments), especially when it comes to PED (performance-enhancing drugs). That is my shadow forever. “That won’t affect us,” he said.
“When I lose weight, I still have something to say. ‘When I put myself in a condition, I have enlarged my body, I still have something to say. That’s what makes it difficult for PBA players to always be in trouble. ”
“But that’s (part of our life). We just have to focus on the goal, which is to play our best. ”
Ravena will try to bounce back from his insignificant performance when NLEX becomes entangled with Magnolia, who also lost his first game to San Miguel on March 8, Wednesday.
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