SINGAPORE - Kiefer Ravena all but guaranteed a basketball gold medal for the Philippines in the 28th Southeast Asian Games.
Then he proceeded to make sure there won't be any hiccups.
The Ateneo star combined with former college rival Almond Vosotros in a third-quarter tear on Wednesday, leading the Gilas cadets to an opening 81-52 win over Indonesia in their debut in this biennial showcase.
Ravena, seeking his third SEA Games gold medal before turning pro, led a big burst that took the fight out of an Indonesian team that trailed by only 11 points at halftime.
By the time the third quarter had ended, the Filipinos were already way ahead, 60-34, and cruising to another victory in a competition where they have not lost a game since 1991.
Ravena topscored with 16 points while Troy Rosario added 15 and Vosotros 14 for the Gilas cadets, who nonetheless failed to impress national coach Tab Baldwin in their debut.
Baldwin ruled later that his team "failed to play Filipino basketball' in a highly physical game marred by a couple of skirmishes on the floor.
The scores:
Philippines 81 - Ravena 16, Rosario 15, Vosotros 14, Torres 8, Ferrer 8, Douthit 6, Belo 5, Thompson 4, Amer 0, Jalalon 0, Rivero 0
Indonesia 52 - Sanjaya 9, Enguio 8, Gunawan R. 8, Santosa 6, Dhyaksa 6, Wisnu 3, Kurniawan 3, Putra 2, Stepu 2, wusyang 2, Gunawan G. 0
Quarterscores: 14-4; 35-24; 60-34; 81-52
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