Kiefer Ravena sees Filipino playing in B.League Finals ‘very soon’

Yokohama guard Kiefer Ravena gestures after making a 3-pointer against Koshigaya in the B.League.–Photo from Yokohama B-Corsairs IG

MANILA, Philippines—Right now, the Japan B.League Finals feature the Nagasaki Velca and the Ryukyu Golden Kings, two teams that are without any Filipino imports.

If you ask Kiefer Ravena, though, that may change in the years to come with the steady influx of Filipino imports entering Japan’s premier basketball league.

“I’m sure everybody’s happy to be able to witness the finals, maybe next time we see a Pinoy playing in that stage very, very soon,” he told reporters at SM Megamall on Saturday.

“It’s a big thing to see QMB (Quentin Millora-Brown) and (AJ) Edu because we all know that when it comes to basketball, when we talk about talent per talent, we can match up with others.”

Ravena’s Yokohama B-Corsairs were unable to reach the B.League quarterfinals.

Yet, the quarterfinals saw two Filipinos present during the action.

Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders duked it out with Millora-Brown’s Chiba Jets in the quarters with the latter advancing to the semis.

Quentin Mllora-Brown’s Jets, however, bowed out after falling to Nagasaki in the semifinals.

If that was any indication, though, it only showed how close a Filipino is from reaching the B.League’s grandest stage.

“It’s just a matter of the right situation wherein those guys compete in a team that’s really competing in the Playoffs,” said Ravena.

“That’s what we all hope for anyway, right? To be able to play at that level and hopefully, it can happen to a lot more of us,” he added.