KIEFER Ravena said he is now making a ‘conscious effort’ not to ‘flop’ during games.
Amid the praise for his scintillating performance in the UAAP Season 77, Ravena has found himself a target of bashing from fans who claim he regularly 'flops' to get calls since his younger days with the Blue Eagles.
In 2012, former UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato fanned the flames when he told the media that Ravena is a ‘good actor’ who manages to 'sell' calls to the referees.
[See Ravena a 'good actor,' says UAAP commissioner]
The bashing heightened after Ateneo's overtime win over University of the East on Sunday, when Ravena scored a career-high 38 points while going to the free-throw line 25 times, making 19.
The 'King Eagle,' however, believes that selling calls to the refees is part of the game, pointing out that there are a lot of players who are good in that department not only in the UAAP but in other leagues as well.
“Hindi lang naman ako ‘yung ganun sa liga,” Ravena told Spin.ph. “Alam ko. Marami akong kilalang ganun. It’s part of the game, kahit papaano.”
But in a bid to silence the critics, Ravena said he is actually trying to reduce instances where he was deemed to flop during games.
“Actually, tinatry ko i-lessen talaga ‘yun para walang masabi ‘yung mga tao. Conscious effort na lang din,” said Ravena.
Ravena said he is trying his best not to mind the flopping accusations, the same way he shrugged off the 'dirty finger' stunt pulled off by a fan that stirred a controversy online.
“Kung may nangha-harass nga sa picture, ano pa kaya ‘yung mga nagsasabi ng flopper ako?” said Ravena. “Hindi ko na lang din pinapansin.
"Some people kahit anong gawin mo na maganda, hahanap at hahanap sila ng butas, You can’t please anybody. That’s the best way to put it,” he added.
While making a conscious effort not to 'sell calls' during games, the fourth-year Ateneo star said he is trying to be strong mentally so the accusations won't affect his game.
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