(SPOT.ph) Kiefer Ravena has been named the first Filipino athlete to ever join the Jumpman roster, announced the Nike Jordan brand on May 4. From now on, you can bet that the captain of the Gilas Pilipinas team will be sporting the instantly recognizable Jumpman logo—based on Michael Jordan's own silhouette—as an official member of the Nike brand family.
As the only basketball player with five gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, a glittery career spanning from the University Athletic Association of Philippines, the Philippine Basketball Association, and more, we can see why he was chosen to represent the ultra coveted brand.
The Jordan brand has always given us some special lovin'. Manila is the site of the first Jordan store in Southeast Asia and Ravena was front and center when the BGC shop opened up in 2020. "The energy was really crazy," said Ravena. And to add some fuel to your green-eyed monster, he was given the privilege of being the first to wear a pair of the limited "Manila" series at the opening.
Not that he wears them anymore. "I keep them in an acrylic case in a safe. I could pull them out and wear them every now and then, but I don’t. Those are really sacred for me. Having one of the 150 pairs, and being one of the first to wear them, is really special for me." We know you can relate.
Ravena shared that his real favorite though is still the relatively humbler Air Jordan XIs. "For me, it’s forever. It will never get old," he said. The athlete recalled saving up for the Air Jordan XI "Space Jam" back in high school—when he was shooting hoops as an Ateneo Blue Eaglet—and buying it with his own money.
Kiefer Ravena on Bringing Filipino Basketball to the Global Stage
As a global brand, Ravena is making sure he's bringing Pinoy basketball to the internatinal forum. "Most people know that Filipinos are addicted to basketball," he says in an interview with the brand. "When you’re here, you really see the passion. You see the fire. No one wants to lose. Every time someone puts on the national team uniform, they feel united with one another. When games are live on TV, everyone stops what they’re doing to support."
"I’d like the world to know that Filipino basketball is all about heart," he said. "We’ve always been underdogs. I want to bring back the time when people looked to Philippine basketball on the international stage—the glory days of Philippine basketball. Hopefully, we will be given a chance to do so." Ravena comes from a family of national-level athletes and is the son of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Ferdinand "Bong" Ravena.
"It’s beyond basketball. It’s about giving your best to the sport, the best of your abilities. Whether you win or lose, the only thing you can really control is the effort you give, the preparation and the mental and physical toughness you have. After that, after the game, you can say to yourself, 'I gave it my best. I left it all on the floor.'"
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Source: Spot PH
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