As with other OFWs, we need to check on our Filipino basketball players in Japan from time to time.
More and more Filipino basketball players entertain offers — if not accept — from teams in the Japan B-League and Korean Basketball League.
Thirdy Ravena paved the way for other Filipino imports by signing with San-En Neophoenix. Not a few have followed suit ever since.
Guys like Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, and Dwight Ramos are slowly becoming household names in Japan while Gilas mainstay Jordan Heading has been making a mark for Nagasaki Verca in the league’s Division 2.
Before we bid 2022 goodbye, let’s get the latest on these imports.
Matthew Wright
Team: Kyoto Hannary’s
Averages: 11.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Last game of the year: 14 points 6 assists in 87-83 win over Kawasaki Brave Thunders
Team record: 10-15, No. 7 West District
Wright looks right at home with Kyoto but there’s much work cut out for his team this season.
Thirdy Ravena
Team: San-En Neophoenix
Averages: 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists
Last game of the year: 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in 94-80 win over Nagoya (as of this writing, San-En has yet to take on Chiba Jets on Saturday)
Team record: 12-12, No. 3 in Central District
Thirdy Ravena has helped his team notch 4 of the last five games as the Neophoenix went .500 for the No. 3 spot in the Central District.
Bobby Ray Parks
Team: Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
Averages: 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Last game of the year: 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists in 88-86 win over Sunrockers Shibuya
Team record: 18-7, No. 4 in West District
The two-time UAAP MVP has been a solid contributor for the Dolphins and his team sits comfortably at No. 4 in the West District.
Kiefer Ravena
Team: Shiga Lakes
Averages: 9.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Last game of the year: 9 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 83-90 loss to Ibaraki Robots
Team record: 4-21, No. 8 in West District
The Lakes have struggled to find their groove even though Kiefer Ravena, the team captain, has been a steady presence for them.
Dwight Ramos
Team: Levanga Hokkaido
Averages: 12.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists
Last game of the year: 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 84-99 loss to Kyoto Hannary’s on November 20 (he has yet to play since then)
Team record: 7-18, No. 8 in East District
Ramos last played for the team over a month ago, but it looks like a return to the court is looming. We even saw him enjoy winter with girlfriend Kianna Dy in Japan.
Over at Division 2, these 3 Filipino ballers are also making a mark.
Kobe Paras
Team: Altiri Chiba
Averages: 7.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists
Last game of the year: 3 points in over 9 minutes in 94-88 win over Koshigaya Alphas
Team record: 21-5, No. 1 in East District
Paras provides quality minutes for the Altiri Chiba who are currently atop the heap in the East District.
Jordan Heading
Team: Nagasaki Verca
Averages: 13.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists
Last game of the year: 9 points in 107-94 win over Bambicious Nara
Team record: 18-8, No. 2 in West District
You can count on Jordan heading to give you buckets whenever he’s on the floor, that's why he’s averaging 13.0 points for Nagasaki.
Greg Slaughter
Team: Rising Zephyr Fukuoka
Averages: 3.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists
Last game of the year: 3 rebounds in 41-81 loss to Saga Balloons last December 11.
Team record: 10-16, No. 5 in West District
The 7-foot behemoth has yet to have a breakout game for the Rising Zephyr Fukuoka but we know it’s gonna happen very soon for the PBA Best Player of the Conference. But this 13-13 game was really impressive.