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PBA draft: Kiefer goes No. 2 as NLEX rebuild finds cornerstone player

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Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/10/29/ravena1.jpg"/><figcaption>Former Blue Eagle Kiefer Ravena hopes to swoop in this coming season and leave a good impression on NLEX, the team that selected him No. 2 in the PBA rookie draft Sunday. <em>Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>The Road Warriors appear to have found a phenomenal young player who can lead them on a path of success.</p><p>NLEX chose Kiefer Ravena No. 2 in the PBA rookie draft in a ceremony held at Robinson&#x27;s Ermita on Sunday.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Blessed to be part of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NlexRoadwarriors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NlexRoadwarriors</a> 🙏🏽</p>— Kiefer Ravena (@kieferravena) <a href="https://twitter.com/kieferravena/status/924576264240762880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2017</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/10/29/ravena.jpg"/><figcaption>Kiefer Ravena with dad Bong, a former PBA Rookie of the Year recipient, and mom Mozzy. <em>Courtesy of the PBA Twitter account</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>“Sobrang overwhelming. Dream ko ito simula pa ng bata pa ako. Na-fulfill ko na rin iyong dream ng dad ko to be a second-generation basketball player,” said Ravena, who went to the US last year to try his luck playing in the NBA.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/29/17/smb-octoberfest-beermen-choose-fil-german-standhardinger-as-top-draft-pick">READ: Beermen choose Standhardinger as 2017 top draft pick</a></li></ul><p>When the many-time champion for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Gilas Pilipinas finally decided to stay home, the league knew he would be an invaluable piece for a team looking to turn its fortunes around.</p><p>After Christian Standhardinger went first, Ravena fell on NLEX&#x27;s lap and picking the son of a former Rookie of the Year winner (dad Bong) was a no-brainer for coach Yeng Guiao.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/23/17/no-doubt-about-it-kiefer-would-love-to-play-for-yeng-guiao">READ: No doubt about it, Kiefer would love to play for Yeng Guiao</a></li></ul><p>Helping Guiao welcome Ravena onstage at Robinson&#x27;s Manila were Asi Taulava, Alex Mallari and Kevin Alas, who will share back-court duties with Ravena.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:658px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:8px"><div style="background:#F8F8F8;line-height:0;margin-top:40px;padding:46.620370370370374% 0;text-align:center;width:100%"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);display:block;height:44px;margin:0 auto -44px;position:relative;top:-22px;width:44px"> </div></div><p style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba05XjglRM4/" style="color:#c9c8cd;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Asi Taulava (@agelessasi88)</a> on <time dateTime="2017-10-29T09:14:17+00:00" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:17px">Oct 29, 2017 at 2:14am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><div><script async="" defer="" src="http://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>With Standhardinger and Ravena landing in their expected spots, the rest of the draft became less predictable.</p><p>Blackwater used its pick to get Raymar Jose, a national-team regular and former Far Eastern University player, at No. 3, while Phoenix grabbed Minnesota-born La Salle alumnus Jason Perkins at No. 4.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/10/29/teng.jpg"/><figcaption>Jeron Teng, picked No. 5 by Alaska in PBA rookie draft Sunday, looks forward to learning from coach Alex Compton and Calvin &quot;the Beast&quot; Abueva. <em>Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Alaska picked UAAP champion Jeron Teng of La Salle at No. 5, while GlobalPort tabbed PBA D-League standout Robert Herndon at No. 6.</p><p>Rain Or Shine took Letran star Rey Nambatac seventh, Phoenix chose EAC Sidney Onwubere at No. 8, and Star grabbed Arellano high-flyer Lervin Flores ninth.</p><p>Completing the first round are D-League standout Mac Tallo and Colegio de San Lorenzo&#x27;s Jon Gabriel, selected Nos. 10 and 11 respectively by TNT; and Gilas regular and former UP player Jett Manuel, who went to Barangay Ginebra at No. 12.</p><p>(For more sports coverage, visit the <strong><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a></strong>)</p>

PBA draft: Kiefer goes No. 2 as NLEX rebuild finds cornerstone player

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PBA draft: Kiefer goes No. 2 as NLEX rebuild finds cornerstone player

Dominic Menor,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 29, 2017 04:50 PM PHT

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Updated October 29, 2017 07:11 PM PHT

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