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Thirdy hopes to balance Gilas commitment with responsibilities in Japan

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/sports/02/19/20200217-ravena-md.jpg"/><figcaption>Thirdy Ravena remains committed to the Gilas Pilipinas program despite recently signing with a Japanese club team. File photo. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- Thirdy Ravena reiterated his commitment to the Philippine national team program, even though he is headed to Japan to play for the San-En NeoPhoenix in the B.League.Ravena is the first Filipino import in the history of the league, signed via the newly-implemented &quot;Asian Player Quota&quot; system that seeks to &quot;enhance teams&#x27; competitive abilities,&quot; among other aims. &quot;I was put in a position na ma-represent ko din &#x27;yung Philippines, not just here but also in Japan. And with that, gusto ko rin sabihin na gusto ko nga maglaro for the Philippines,&quot; Ravena said in an appearance on &quot;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=412345629723567&amp;ref=watch_permalink">The Prospects</a>&quot; podcast.&quot;Ang importante, &#x27;yung schedule,&quot; he explained. &quot;As long as mag-agree naman &#x27;yung both parties, wala akong problema doon.&quot;Ravena has played for Gilas Pilipinas in the final window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers as well as the first window of the FIBA Asian Cup 2021 qualifiers. He is expected to be a big part of the national team as it moves forward to the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia. Ravena noted that as of now, there is still no schedule for the next window of the Asian qualifiers, which was originally set for November.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/nba/news/2020/06/30/nets-039-deandre-jordan-says-coronavirus-69138">READ: Nets&#x27; DeAndre Jordan says he has coronavirus</a></li></ul>&quot;The schedule is not really fixed right now,&quot; he said in a press conference on Friday, when he was formally introduced to local media. &quot;We have to talk with the organization, just to make sure that everything&#x27;s good. And if it&#x27;s good, then we can start talking about it.&quot;&quot;We still have to know about the schedule, but obviously I want to play with the national team. It&#x27;s still up to the club, and we can talk about it when everything is final,&quot; he added.The <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/24/20/japan-bound-thirdy-ravena-still-committed-to-gilas">Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas</a> (SBP) had congratulated Ravena upon his signing and also thanked him for remaining committed to the national team program.&quot;We congratulate Thirdy Ravena for this achievement, and we are one with Filipino basketball fans in hoping he finds success there,&quot; said SBP president Al Panlilio. &quot;Thirdy has always expressed his willingness to play for the Philippines, and he reiterated his commitment in playing for Gilas Pilipinas in a short conversation we had earlier.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>).

Thirdy Ravena reiterated his commitment to the Philippine national team program, even though he is headed to Japan to play for the San-En NeoPhoenix in the B.League.

Thirdy Ravena reiterated his commitment to the Philippine national team program, even though he is headed to Japan to play for the San-En NeoPhoenix in the B.League.

Thirdy hopes to balance Gilas commitment with responsibilities in Japan

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Thirdy hopes to balance Gilas commitment with responsibilities in Japan

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2020 04:00 PM PHT

|

Updated July 02, 2020 06:19 AM PHT

Read More:

Thirdy Ravena

Japan

B.League

San-En NeoPhoenix

Gilas Pilipinas

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

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