Bong Ravena says son Kiefer is in good hands with NLEX's Yeng Guiao

MANILA, Philippines — As far as basketball is concerned, Bong Ravena is letting his son Kiefer chart his own course.

“Wala eh, (likely na) magkakalaban kami so hindi niya ako binibigyan ng advice,” a chuckling young Ravena said of his dad.

The 23-year-old draft prospect is projected to be the second overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft this Sunday at Robinson’s Place in Ermita.

“Finally, he decided to join the PBA. Time to work, ika nga,” the elder Ravena said. “Hopefully maganda yung career niya. Ito na ‘yung career niya eh. Hopefully humaba.”

The two-time UAAP champion and Most Valuable Player is one of two second-generation cagers who highlight this year’s rookie class. Jeron Teng, formerly of De La University, is the son of 1993 Defensive Player of the Year and six-time member of the All-Defensive Team in Alvin Teng.
 
Asked about which team he prefers his son to suit up for, Ravena, who is now serving as TNT KaTropa’s assistant coach, said he’s not really giving much thought about it.

“Any team naman eh,” he offered. “Basta nandiyan siya (sa liga).”

The NLEX Road Warriors, who have had a breakthrough conference in the Governors’ Cup behind a new coach, will be on on the clock when the the second pick in the first round is dangled.

With the possibility of facing off against his first-born was brought up, the Ravena patriarch couldn’t help but shake his head and smile in the circumstance surreality.

“Excited ako at the same time I'm very happy na finally nag (professional) na siya,” he said.  

“I’ve been with coach Yeng (Guiao) naman eh since I was in amateur pa. I know him,” he added. “Mas matuturuan niya nang mas maayos si Kief. Hindi naman mahirap anuhin si Kief eh — coachable naman siya in short.”

Guiao, who has won seven titles in the PBA, moved from Rain or Shine to mentoring NLEX by the end of the 2016 season. Struggling in the first two conferences of this year, the politician-coach was able to mount a massive turnaround in the third after securing mid-season trades that reunited him with former players.

With his tough-talking antics preceding Guiao’s reputation, Ravena said he’s more than ready for it as a ward. After all, he’s had a mentor who was as almost as fiery.

“I’m excited to be under Coach Yeng. I’ve been under a fiery coach also such as Coach Jamike. I guess that was a good practice for me, being under Coach Jamike. But I don’t think Coach Jamike is anywhere close to how Coach Yeng is. But I’m very excited,” the incoming freshman said.

“I’ve talked to Coach Yeng a couple of times prior to the combine. So hopefully everything pans out,” he closed.