CHICAGO - Forty-six days since bidding the San-En NeoPhoenix a heartfelt goodbye, it looks like Thirdy Ravena is ready to leave the Japan B.League altogether.
A person with knowledge of the situation wouldn't confirm Ravena's next landing spot, saying only that a decision is imminent and Thirdy is "leaning on a new adventure."
Per multiple sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the fork in Ravena's road leads to Europe or Dubai where the UAE Basketball League is being played.
READ Thirdy Ravena turns free agent at end of San-En contract
The first-ever player to be signed under Japan's Asian quota in JUne 2020, Ravena was among the highest-paid Asian imports in the B.League, pulling in a reported monthly salary north of $40,000.
The average salary in the UAE League is $8000 to $10,000 a month with a max of $100,000 a year. While that may be a little thin for Thirdy's standards, sources said that he will be paid more in endorsements.
Obviously, the motherlode is the EuroLeague where the average yearly salary is $500,000 with a max of $4 million. Outside of that, the choices to pick league are vast.
A trainer who assisted the former UAAP star in Los Angeles and Las Vegas recently said Thirdy is "looking good" and can certainly play anywhere after a highly productive four years in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Climbing peaks and overcoming challenges is not new to the 6-foot-2, 213-lb. Thirdy. He won three titles for Ateneo from 2017 to 2019 and was named Finals MVP in each of those title runs.
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