Valuable replacement

KIEFER Ravena could be in the hunt for a fifth straight SEA Games gold medal. ROMAN PROSPERO

Kiefer Ravena could be staring at history as the only Filipino basketball player to win five straight gold medal in the men’s basketball competition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

This scenario came after Gilas Pilipinas head coach confirmed on Sunday that the NLEX guard will be replacing the injured Jayson Castro in his 15-man pool.

“Yes. We are investigating the possibility,” Cone told the Daily Tribune when asked if the former Ateneo de Manila University standout will be tapped for the biennial meet.

Ravena’s stellar performance in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup could be his ticket to the pool as he’s one of the reasons why the Road Warriors are currently on top of the team standings at 7-1 win-loss mark.

The six-foot guard is averaging 16.5 points and local-best 9.2 assists in the season-ending conference that put the franchise in a good position for its first-ever PBA crown.

But Cone said Ravena’s inclusion to the pool depends on the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) as Castro’s name was originally included in the original pool submitted to the organizers.

The SBP is still working on the possibility of Ravena being a late replacement for the 33-year Castro, who suffered a calf injury and will be out for a month.

“Losing a guy like Jayson is a huge blow. He’s one of the guys that I was really looking forward to coach and rely on. It’s tough to lose him but tougher for him,” Cone said.

“It’s such a huge blow for us. He’s so respected amongst the 15 guys there,” he added.

If Ravena makes the final cut, he’ll have a strong shot of making history as he already won the gold medal in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 editions of the SEA Games.

Former PBA center Rommel Adducul had the most number of golds in the biennial meet after Ravena with three in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

The country is shooting for its 18th gold medal in the men’s competition of the SEA Games, which the country will be hosting from 30 November to 11 December.

The men’s basketball competition will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Cone’s Gilas 5 is scheduled to meet Alab Pilipinas tonight in a closed-door tune-up game at the Meralco Gym. They will meet again on 11 November before facing a Taiwanese club on 18 November.