Latest news with #Ravena
GMA Network
20-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Strong Group completes Jones Cup title sweep with blowout win vs. UAE
Strong Group Athletics (SGA)-Philippines didn't just win back-to-back titles as it also completed a tournament sweep, thrashing UAE with an 87-62 victory to conclude its 2025 Jones Cup run on Sunday in Taiwan. SGA, which had already clinched the championship on Saturday after dominating Bahrain with a 92-68 romp, capped off its stint unscathed with an 8-0 win-loss card. UAE, on the other hand, closed out its campaign winless at 0-8. Tajuan Agee gave the Philippine representative a huge lift after erupting for 20 points laced with five rebounds, four assists, and one steal while Kiefer Ravena took over in the fourth and finished with a near double-double of 13 markers and nine dimes. Other reinforcements in Ian Miller and DJ Fenner each chipped in 12 points as Dave Ildefonso chimed in with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Up by just a solitary point at the break, Strong Group shifted into high gear in the second half as Fenner and Jason Brickman led their third quarter surge with the former knocking down a triple for a 62-48 lead. UAE tried to make some runs before heading to the fourth after Khalifa Khalil Ibrahim Salem completed a four-point play with two seconds left in the third as they cut the deficit to 10, 62-52. But Ravena seized control in the payoff period, sinking a three-pointer before issuing back-to-back dimes that led to a pair of baskets for Ildefonso as they raced to a 76-56 cushion. Ravena, who missed the first three games due to previous commitment, buried a mid-range jumper and layup that sent Strong Group to a comfortable 80-57 advantage with still 4:09 to play. SGA never took its foot off the pedal as they became the first Philippine team to ever win two titles in a row. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Kiefer Ravena returns as Strong Group dominates Australia for 4-0 start
Kiefer Ravena made an immediate impact in his first game back for Strong Group-Philippines as they dominated Australia, 91-75, to remain immaculate at the 2025 William Jones Cup on Wednesday. Ravena, who missed the first three games to attend to other commitments, provided the spark in the fourth quarter as the Philippine squad improved to 4-0 in their title defense bid. Australia dropped to a 2-3 car despite getting huge lift from Filipino-Australian baller James Spencer and Mac Stodart. Spencer, who played for the University of the Philippines in the UAAP, made crucial baskets in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer that sliced their deficit to 11, 65-76. But Ravena spoiled Australia's comeback bid, burying two consecutive triples of his own to make it an 84-67 cushion before Javi Gomez de Liaño sealed the victory with a long bomb from the corner. Andre Roberson was the usual suspect as he finished with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds together with six assists and a steal while Ian Miller and Tajuan Agee each chipped in 12 markers. Ravena marked his return with nine points as Dave Ildefonsos chimed in with 10 markers. Stodart and Spencer paced Australia with the forer collecting 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block while the latter scattered 11 markers, six boards, and five dimes. Strong Group will look to bag its fifth win in a row on Thursday, when it slugs it out against home bet Chinese Taipei White at 5 p.m. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
28-06-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Kiefer Ravena, Rhenz Abando lead Strong Group Athletics in Jones Cup title defense
Mainstays Kiefer Ravena and Rhenz Abando will spearhead the Strong Group Athletics when they defend the title in the 2025 William Jones Cup that fires off next month. Ravena and Abando will be returning for another tour of duty for the Philippine representatives alongside Jason Brickman, Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame, Geo Chiu, and reigning NCAA MVP Allen Liwag. Reinforcing the squad are 6-foot-6 guard DJ Fenner, 6-foot-9 big man Tajuan Agee, and NBA veteran Andre Roberson with longtime coach Charles Tiu still calling the shots. 'Yeah, I'm excited to bring back some guys from our championship squad. This might be the first time we're able to run it back with this many returning players,' said Tiu. SGA, however, will open its campaign without Ravena, who is expected to miss the first two games against Chinese-Taipei Blue on July 13 and the Japan Under-25 Akatsuki Five squad on July 14 due to prior commitments. Despite that, SGA is focused on defending the crown they won last year by defeating Chinese Taipei A in a classic overtime showdown that saw the Filipinos eking out an 83-79 victory. 'The big challenge is that we'll be facing Taipei A in our very first game, and we haven't played any tune-up games yet. We'll have to see how quickly the team can gel. Kiefer will also miss a couple of games, but we're definitely looking to defend our crown,' added Tiu. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20-05-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
Kiefer Ravena signs extension with Yokohama in Japan B. League
Kiefer Ravena is staying put as the Filipino import inked another contract with the Yokohama B-Corsairs in the Japan B. League, marking his second year with the club. The development also marked Ravena's fifth season in the league, spending the first three years with the Shiga Lakes. He joined Yokohama last year, replacing Kai Sotto as the team's Asian import. "I'm excited to go back to Yokohama and play next season. We want to be a championship team and I believe we have to chance to do so. I hope we can stay healthy and bring a championship to Yokohama," Ravena said in a statement. Ravena, who previously played for NLEX in the PBA, posted 9.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in the previous season where Yokohama racked up 24 wins against 36 losses. —Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News
Dubai Eye
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Dubai Basketball wraps regular season with home win
Dubai Basketball celebrated a triumphant end to their regular season with a home victory, making history as the first Middle Eastern team to compete in Europe's Adriatic League. In their debut campaign, the team secured an impressive third-place finish. Riding a 13-game unbeaten streak, Dubai Basketball will face Slovenia's Cedevita Olimpija this Sunday at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena in their first-ever playoff appearance. Speaking on Dubai 92's Big Breakfast show, star player Thirdy Ravena shared insights about the team's momentum and upcoming playoff ambitions. When asked what skill he would borrow from an NBA legend for a day, Ravena chose Michael Jordan's competitiveness, saying it would offer a rare look into 'what goes through the legend's mind during a game and how he approaches everything'. Founded in 2023 by UAE businessman Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah, Dubai Basketball is a newly established professional franchise competing in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) League for the 2024–25 season.
