From the toughest team he had to play against to his favorite teammate, Thirdy Ravena answered some questions as the 2024 Japan B.League season wraps up.
The Land of the Rising Sun surely provided Thirdy Ravena with great memories to cherish.
Ravena’s stint with the San-en NeoPhoenix may have ended, but the Pinoy hooper looked back on Year 4 of his Japan journey that might be his best season yet with the squad.
“[My] favorite moment is definitely when we won the conference championship. It was on the road, but there were a lot of Boosters that went to Toyama as well and we were able to celebrate it when we got back,” Thirdy said when asked about his favorite moment of the season.
Ravena helped the NeoPhoenix finish at the top of the Central Division and enter the playoffs as the number two seed before they got booted out by the eventual champions Hiroshima Dragonflies in the quarterfinals.
ALSO READ: Thirdy Ravena's San-en NeoPhoenix crowned B.League Central Conference champions]
“After four years, I’m very happy to be able to achieve that feat and I’m happy to celebrate it with the whole community,” he added.
[ALSO READ: NeoPhoenix Rising: The patience and perseverance of San-en's Thirdy Ravena]
In 57 games this season, Thirdy, the first Filipino player as part of the Japan B.League Asian Quota, averaged 12.6 rebounds, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on an efficient 52.2 percent shooting while playing 27 minutes per game.
He was also hailed as the league’s Impressive Asia Player of the Year awardee.
[ALSO READ: B.League: Thirdy Ravena named Impressive Asia Player of the Year]
The younger Ravena, who is included to a growing list of Pinoy hoopers in the free agency pool, then bared more about his squad, revealing his favorite teammate and some of the funny moments they have.
“Everybody, of course, but the closest I would say is Yante [Maten], because we’ve been together since last year and he’s the one that lives close to my house and we always hang out when he’s free.”
“I would say whenever we warm-up. Whenever we warm-up, the energy is light. Everyone’s laughing,” Ravena added.
The former Ateneo Blue Eagle also revealed the toughest team he had to play, with a couple of squads coming first to his mind.
“I’d say Hiroshima [Dragonflies] knocked us out but I’ll say Utsunomiya [Brex] as well just because they got a lot of good players and they have a solid system. And I had to guard D.J [Newbill]. So, it’s always a challenge when we face Utsunomiya.”
Utsunomiya claimed the Eastern Conference title and the league’s overall best record behind a 51-9 record, but they fell against the Chiba Jets in the quarterfinal round.
Lastly, Thirdy took time on how the Boosters, San-en’s fan-based, helped the squad to navigate a career season for the NeoPhoenix.
"They’re like the people who give us all the energy that we need, when we come into the games especially in times when we’re struggling. We just look around and we see everybody trying to cheer us, trying to go to our games and they just motivate us every single day.”
However, the question still remains: where will Thirdy take his talents next?
[NEXT: TRACKER: Where to next for these Filipino Asian Quota Players?]
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