CWS LIMIT: 3,500

CWS COUNT: 4,044

THIRDY RAVENA
By Colin C. Salao
Standing at the top of the key, Thirdy Ravena readied himself to attack, then gracefully went
right past his defender and to the rim for the lay-up.
He missed. He groaned - the sound full of exhaustion and frustration. Two plays later, he
racked up a couple of solid defensive stands and strong rebounds only to find himself on the
receiving end of, THIRDY, LEARN TO BACKDOOR!, from head coach Tab Baldwin.
It was gruelling practice for Ravena and the rest of the Blue Eagles - the last one before the
teams two week mini-camp in the US. However, for the younger Ravena, theres newfound
appreciation for these draining practices after his experience from last season.
That was the worst year ever for me, basketball wise, Thirdy said, referring to missing out
on Season 78. In his freshman year, the BS Communications Technology major failed to reach the
required grade to play for an Ateneo varsity team. This meant that Thirdy, who has been sporting
the Blue and White for the greater half of a decade, was not allowed to represent the school in any
way. The blow was unbearable for him. I cried for like weeks. [I couldnt] take it.
For the team, the loss had both short and long term ramifications. Despite being a deep and
talented squad, they lost an incredibly athletic swingman that couldve added to their bench mob.
For a roster that struggled to find offense outside of the Kiefer-Von duo, any added scoring punch
wouldve certainly helped.
They also lost the opportunity to have hands-on training with one of the players in the
squads blueprint for the future. Long time Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga went as far as
referring to it as a big blow, knowing that a year of learning and experience in the UAAP is worth
wonders for a young kids growth and maturity.
But the tradeoff for Thirdys lost basketball opportunity was found in the classroom. The
former UAAP Juniors MVP garnered the highest grades of his college life, crediting both Ateneo
and a changed approach to academics as the cause for his academic improvement. Thirdy seemed
adamant in wanting to thank the school and the the tutors they provided for paving his way back
onto the squad (He even asked to give a shoutout to his tutors, Moses Cam and Lai Salvana!)
Moreover, Ravena said he pictured the idea of possibly losing basketball, and that gave him a
different perspective - one that put academics at the forefront.
However, it cant be denied that, from a basketball standpoint missing out on a full season
was destined to make a mark on his development. To try to offset this, Ravena mentioned that he
was able to keep up his training regime by working with notable trainers like Joe Ward and Eric
Butler. However, both Thirdy and his coaching staff are aware of the adjustments to be made when
reverting back from a year of individual training to the concepts of team basketball. That said, early
returns have shown that the college junior has not skipped a beat despite the layoff. In the FilOil
Flying V Preseason Cup - one that features both UAAP and NCAA teams - Ravena constantly
started for the team and was often one of the top options for a Blue Eagles squad that finished with
a very impressive third place.

Hes been able to slow the game down, Arespacochaga said, regarding Ravenas FilOil
performance. He also mentioned his improved outside shooting, a skill Thirdy hopes to add to his
arsenal this year in the UAAP.
With the Eagles deploying a fairly young squad this season, Thirdy looks poised to be one of
the teams key cogs alongside Season 78 standouts Aaron Black and Adrian Wong. Despite the big
burden on his shoulders, Thirdy doesnt seem fazed by the pressure. Academics wise, he feels his
mindset is locked in to the point that hes looking to improve even more in that aspect next season.
When asked what should be expected from him on the court, he said simply, [To] play hard. Play
for the team, play for the community. I love to play for them once again.
The Ateneo community is sure glad to him back as well.