Thirdy comes first

For me, the important thing is not the players — it’s the culture.

THIRDY Ravena carries Ateneo to a perfect season. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd

Usually, the turning point of a collegiate player’s athletic career was when he clinched the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award or emerged as champion.

Ravena admitted that the pivotal moment of his career was when he was slapped with a one-year suspension in Season 78 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) due to academic deficiency.

In this era when student-athletes are being looked up to as campus ambassadors and role models, sitting out one season due to academics is such a bitter pill to swallow.

Instead of listening to doubters, he used it as a motivation to improve himself — both inside and outside the playing court. He lifted weights, worked on his grades and gained the respect of his teammates and classmates.

And a year later, he led Ateneo de Manila University to a UAAP crown, kicking off their three-peat campaign in an impressive and historic fashion, something that wouldn’t happen if he locked himself up and quit.

“I was really grateful that it happened,” said Ravena shortly after leading the Blue Eagles to a title-clinching victory over University of Santo Tomas (UST) last Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“It was a wake-up call. It made me realize that I am a student-athlete and I should do my role inside the classroom the same way I do inside the basketball court.”

Since that sorry — but fate-changing — phase of his career in 2015, Ravena wasn’t the same player again.

Sure, they lost to Ben Mbala and the mighty De La Salle University in the UAAP finals in 2016, but he patiently worked his way up, blossoming from a wide-eyed rookie into probably one of the strongest forces in college basketball.

Against the Growling Tigers, Ravena was at his best.

Helmed by Aldin Ayo — the coach who steered the Green Archers to the crown in 2016 — UST was regarded as the only team capable of spoiling Ateneo’s historic parade after prevailing over Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines in the stepladder phase.

The Tigers have the talent with Soulemane Chabi Yo emerging as season MVP and Mark Nonoy hailed as Rookie of the Year. They also have the likes of Rhenz Abando, Renzo Subido, Brent Paraiso and Sherwin Concepcion, giving them enough firepower to upset the Blue Eagles.

But Ravena turned the finals into his own show.

He erupted for 32 points in the first three quarters of Game 1, giving Tab Baldwin a reason to sit him out in the final canto as the Blue Eagles waltzed their way to a 91-77 win.

In Game 2, he didn’t have the luxury to sit out as the Tigers showed up prepared. But still, he managed to churn 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead the Blue Eagles to an 86-79 win and complete the season they have been dreaming of.

“I’m just playing for the community,” Ravena said, adding that his display of dominance in the final game of his collegiate career is his way of repaying the faith and trust given to him by the Ateneo community.

“The feeling is incomparable when you are playing for a community that is behind you right from the start. I think that’s the best feeling for me and it’s not even about accomplishing anything.”

Now that the curtains of the UAAP had already fallen, Ravena is ready to step into a new chapter of his career as the bright lights of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) await him.

His father, Bong, put food on their table through a long and colorful professional career before being appointed as head coach of TNT KaTropa.

Then, there’s his older brother, Kiefer, who was tapped by NLEX as the second overall pick of the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft before campaigning for Gilas Pilipinas in various international tourneys.

Reports have it that once Ravena threw his hat into the PBA, he could emerge as top overall pick in the draft class.

But at this point, the most important thing for Ravena is how to help the Blue Eagles continue their winning tradition.

“For me, the important thing is not the players — it’s the culture,” said Ravena, who will leave behind the likes of SJ Belangel, Ange Kouame, Gian Mamuyac and Will Navarro.

“It’s about how we play for one another and we’ve been preaching the next man up (attitude) for the last four years. And I know whoever steps in our spot will give the very best of his ability for the team.”

Yes, after a year shattered by academic deficiency, Ravena rose to become one of amateur basketball’s brightest stars.

And in the PBA Draft next month, don’t be surprised if Thirdy comes first.