By Jonas Terrado

Kiefer Ravena is taking a bigger approach this time after being named team captain of Gilas Pilipinas for the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers later this month.

Gilas team captain Kiefer Ravena, wearing a yellow undershirt, talks to his teammates during Sunday's practice at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas. (Jonas Terrado)

Gilas team captain Kiefer Ravena, wearing a yellow undershirt, talks to his teammates during Sunday’s practice at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas. (Jonas Terrado)

Interim coach Mark Dickel said the leadership role fits Ravena, who despite being just 26 years old has been a veteran of a number of international stints including last year’s FIBA World Cup in China.

“I think it suits him,” Dickel said after Sunday’s practice at the Meralco Gym in Ortigas. “He’s talkative and he’s communicative. It’s his turn.

“I feel like he’s more capable of taking that role and doing a great job with it. And I think for what we’re trying to build here with the culture that we’re trying to implement, we want everyone to be like that.

“But it’s gonna have to start with one guy, of course, so I got a lot of confidence with Kiefer. I think he can be a world-class point guard, so my job in this window is to try and start getting that out of him.”

While he has welcomed the captaincy role, the NLEX guard insisted that he’ll need the help of fellow PBA players who made the pool, particularly 37-year-old veteran Marc Pingris.

Pingris was a surprise addition to the pool, with Gilas program director Tab Baldwin saying that the Magnolia forward will serve as a bridge between past and present members of the national team.

Other PBA cagers on the pool are CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Poy Erram and Justin Chua, who was named as replacement for Japeth Aguilar.

Ravena also felt that he’ll also serve as a bridge between the pros and the large group of amateurs who are candidates to suit up for the Feb. 20 home match against Thailand at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Feb. 23 road game with Indonesia in Jakarta.

“Feeling ko nandoon ako sa point na ako yung nasa gitna,” Ravena said. “Kaya ako, kahit papaano, one way or another nakalaban ko sila or naging kakampi ko so medyo gamay-gamay ko kung papaano sila kumilos, papaano sila maglaro at yung kakayahin nila.

“I guess that’s one factor that made coach Mark decide na maging captain ako. (But) in terms of leadership, siyempre si Ping yung epitome ng Gilas e, yung puso so kahit hanggang ngayon kailangan namin ipakita yun.

“And I need all the help that I can from Kuya Marc, Poy, CJ and Roger, lalo na nagdagdagan pa si Justin who is another big and another PBA vet to help out, especially the young ones,” added Ravena.

Source: Manila Bulletin