MANILA, Philippines—Kiefer Ravena had no doubts that younger brother Thirdy would come up big in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 81 men's basketball finals.

Thirdy was solid but not spectacular in the elimination round, averaging 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds. He had several highlight reel plays, but his numbers were modest by his standards.

Come the playoffs, however, "manong Kiefer" knew that Thirdy would show out, and the younger Ravena didn't let his older brother down.

"I expected something from him in the finals," Kiefer said. "I said, 'You didn't give good numbers and that's what people expect you to do so you better perform during the finals.'"

"Not to put any pressure on him, but that boy loves the stage, loves to be in the finals," he added.

Thirdy served notice of his intentions in the final 4, scoring 22 points in Ateneo's 80-61 rout of Far Eastern University. And in Game 1 of the finals against University of the Philippines last Saturday, Thirdy put up a 21-point, 10-rebound, 9-assist masterpiece as the Blue Eagles claimed an 88-79 win.

On Wednesday, Thirdy made sure there would be no Game 3. He scored a career-high 38 points, matching Kiefer's career-best output, while tallying 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The veteran forward earned finals MVP honors after powering Ateneo to a 99-81 triumph over the Fighting Maroons.

Kiefer, who was watching the Creamline-Ateneo game in the Premier Volleyball League, admittedly breathed a sigh of relief when Thirdy was subbed out after getting to 38 points.

"Kanina, I was praying na ilabas na siya noong naka-38 na siya. Pati ba naman 'yun kukunin niya pa sa akin, 'di ba?" said Kiefer, who scored 38 points in a 93-91 overtime triumph over University of the East in Season 77.

"Nakadalawang championship na nga, dalawang MVP pa. 'Yung 38 na lang saving grace ko," he said. "OK lang na masabing pantay. Noong nilabas na siya, natuwa pa ako kesa noong nag-champion sila."

Thirdy has now matched Kiefer with two UAAP championships, and now has two finals MVP awards to boot. Kiefer, who won two MVPs but no finals MVP trophies in his collegiate career, has no doubt that Thirdy will be gunning for a third straight crown next season.

"He's going for a third one just so he can say he can beat me. I'm pretty sure that's his biggest motivation right now," said Kiefer. "It has been going on in the house since he didn't have one. Now, I'm afraid he's gonna get one in his senior year."

"I know he won't let anything happen, nothing in his way can stop him," he added.

There is no doubt that Thirdy has fully escaped the shadow of his older brother. Indeed, the question now is if Thirdy has become better than Kiefer — a question that Kiefer gamely answered.

"Well, he got that stats and the championships to back it up," said Kiefer. "As with who's the better Ravena, I'm happy to share it with him. Kaya naman na kaming dalawa parehas."

"For now, siguro na hindi ako naglalaro, bigay muna natin sa kaniya," added the "Phenom," who is still serving a FIBA-mandated suspension from all basketball.

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