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Kiefer Ravena signs with Shiga Lakestars in Japan's B.League

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/01/24/20210124-kiefer-ravena.jpg"/></figure></div><p>(<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) Another Ravena is headed to Japan&#x27;s B.League.</p><p>Kiefer Ravena has signed a contract with the Shiga Lakestars for the 2021-22 season, the club announced on Wednesday.</p><p>Ravena will be registered as an Asian import, similar to his younger brother Thirdy&#x27;s situation with the San-En NeoPhoenix.</p><p>He will be formally introduced next Monday along with Shiga&#x27;s new head coach, Luis Guil Torres.</p><p>In its statement, Shiga noted that Ravena is &quot;an extremely popular athlete,&quot; with over a million followers on various social media accounts. They also lauded the player for his participation in the FIBA World Cup 2019 with Gilas Pilipinas.</p><p>Ravena is joining a Shiga Lakestars team that went 23-36 in the B.League&#x27;s West region last season, and missed the playoffs. </p><p>He will play in the same region as Thirdy and the NeoPhoenix. The younger Ravena recently signed a contract extension with San-En after an injury-riddled campaign last year.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/10/21/thirdy-ravena-san-en-neophoenix-contract-extension">READ: Thirdy Ravena to stay with San-En</a></li></ul><p>The B.League season starts in October, with teams playing 60 games -- 30 at home and 30 on the road.</p><p>In March, NLEX Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao revealed that Ravena had gotten a &quot;really good offer&quot; to play in Japan. At the time, Guiao noted that there were certain hurdles that Ravena had to overcome in order to sign a contract with a B.League team.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/11/21/pba-nlex-coach-guiao-says-kiefer-received-offer-to-play-in-japan">READ: NLEX coach Guiao says Kiefer received offer to play in Japan</a></li></ul><p>Ravena was drafted second overall by the Road Warriors in 2017, but never got to play a full season for NLEX. His rookie and sophomore years were hampered by a FIBA-imposed sanction after he tested positive for banned substances.</p><p>In 2020, the PBA season was shortened to just one conference because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ravena and the Road Warriors finished 5-6 in the elimination round in the PBA&#x27;s bubble, and missed the playoffs.</p><p>In May, Ravena became the first Filipino athlete to sign with <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/04/21/kiefer-ravena-becomes-first-filipino-athlete-to-sign-with-jordan-brand">Nike&#x27;s Jordan Brand</a>.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1677752" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Kiefer Ravena has signed a contract with the Shiga Lakestars for the 2021-22 season, the club announced on Wednesday.</p>

Kiefer Ravena has signed a contract with the Shiga Lakestars for the 2021-22 season, the club announced on Wednesday.