LOS ANGELES - By the time he reached his fourth year playing for the San-En NeoPhoenix in the Japan B League, Thirdy Ravena had burst into a shining, shimmering star.
Averaging 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, he was named an All-Star and crowned as the Impressive Asia Player of the Year in 2024.
His blue-chip stock and marketability rose, and hard-earned, well-deserved money pourred like monsoon rain. Life was beautiful.
READ Thirdy Ravena parts ways with Dubai Basketball
But Thirdy Ravena's pursuit of happiness was never zeroed in exclusively on wealth and fame. He wanted to break another barrier, crush one more ceiling to pave the way for the next generation of Pinoy hoopers.
Having already made history as the first Asian quota signee in the B.League in 2020, the three-time UAAP champion and three-time UAAP Finals MVP set his sights on scaling another Mt. Everest.
THE EUROLEAGUE.
So instead of re-signing with San-En, the 28-year-old bachelor took a paycut and inked a two-year deal with Dubai Basketball in July of 2024.
"This is not a financial decision. This is about a player trying to test his limits and prove that a Filipino can shine on this level," Ravena's camp told me after he made the leap two years ago.
An unabashed realist, Thirdy understood that It was a longshot.
But he wielded a slingshot, and big dreams that he backed up with talent and a maniacal work ethic.
Sadly, he never got a chance as Dubai coach Junica Golemac utilized Thirdy for only a total of 68 minutes in 18 games in the 2024-25 season. This year, Ravena fell off the rotation and out of the roster altogether, leading to the divorce.
While Year 2 in Dubai was anticipated as the next step in his growth, the team instead signed more players in his position, creating an atmosphere where getting sufficient playing time needed to showcase his skills was no longer feasible.
BRIGHT FUTURE.
With a fully guaranteed contract that will compensate him for the remainder of his deal, Ravena is in no rush to find another team. But sources are telling me there are several offers to return to Japan..
Instead of worrying about the next gig, however, Thirdy went back to his roots as a national team player. and offered to join Gilas Pilipinas coach Norman Black's campaign in the upcoming SEA Games.
Thirdy's attempt to make a mark in the Euroleague was unsuccessful. But it wasn't a failure. The real defeat would have been to not even try at all, to not swing for the fences and see what possibilities may come.
Don't shed a tear for Thirdy, though. He's already moved on, navigating through life's challenges at a warp speed that doesn't allow for time to look at the rear view mirror.
And he'll sleep well tonight secure in the knowledge that tomorrow is another day with more hurdles to jump.
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