Chemistry of Ateneo's core key to second window sweep, says Thirdy Ravena

Thirdy Ravena could have been there in Manama with Gilas Pilipinas in the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, but his commitments with the San-En Neophoenix have prevented him from doing so.

Despite his absence, they have made sure that it is a non-factor by picking up the slack for coach Jong Uichico as they walloped Thailand twice to go top of Group A.

That core of the sixteen strong men were his former teammates in Ateneo including the Nieto twins, Will Navarro and Isaac Go, noticing the familiarity being in full display despite having limited production owing to its “team first” philosophy espoused by his former mentor Tab Baldwin.

On his interview with Migs Bustos at Off the Record, he was asked “How big of pieces are they?” with regards to their influence in the team that gave them three straight wins in the Bahrain bubble despite not playing for more than half a year.

 “They were given a short amount of time to prepare and to learn a system where a lot of them aren’t used to,” he said, owing to the newcomers such as La Salle’s Justine Baltazar and the San Beda duo of reigning NCAA MVP Calvin Oftana and former Blue Eagle reserve Kenmark Carino being put into the pool on a short notice.

“That’s when the Ateneo guys come in. I think it was really important to have those guys kasi sila talaga yung may alam kung ano yung sistema and they get to show the players who are new to the system how it’s supposed to be ran.”

Ravena added from his previous conversations with Mike Nieto, the chemistry has already been forged already in Katipunan as Baldwin and co used to team them up to teach the said system to the newcomers.

“It’s better to see an example when they’re practicing,” he then chimed. “Just having a team to emulate is definitely helping them speed up the process of learning even more.”

Although the inclusion of the former UAAP High School MVP drew flak from the rabid yet holier-than-thou fanbase, Ravena was quick to quash any negativity on him as he was being the glue guy on and off the court.

“He [Mike Nieto] brings a lot,” he asserted, referring to his importance on the team beyond the statistics. “Basically just his presence when you’re on the bench with him and his energy is contagious.”

“He’s always gonna be the guy that really stick out and just be positive and talk to you. Even on the court he might not do much on the offensive end, but he would do whatever it takes even if it is on the defensive end.”

As his graduation along with his teammates causing concerns of Ateneo’s four-peat plans after a historic sweep last season 82, Ravena commented that coach Tab and co. are not done yet.

“There are people coming up like Dwight Ramos, and you have to watch out for that guy,” referring to their prized transfer recruit who had a perfect outing in their first Thailand game.

“What they don’t know is Dwight, and I always just tell them ‘just wait on the guy.’”

FILE PHOTOS: FIBA