IT’S too early make comparisons, but if he had to make one, NLEX coach Yeng Guiao would liken Kiefer Ravena to a mix of two former star playmakers who shone under his wing.
Guiao compared Ravena to Paul Lee and Willie Miller after the prized rookie made a stellar PBA debut in leading the Road Warriors to a 119-115 win over Kia in their Philippine Cup opener on Wednesday.
“Mahirap mag-isip ngayon, pero maybe he's a combination of some of those guys, a combination of Paul Lee and a Willie Miller,” Guiao said in the postgame interview.
“He's able to create his own shots, he's able to find his open teammates and that's very good for the team because our style of play is really just finding the open guys,” he added. “He's smart enough to recognize that.”
Those are qualities that two-time MVP Miller and Lee, who both won two championships each with Guiao, possess.
And Ravena wasted no time showing that he also has those traits by tallying 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, 12 assists, seven boards, and two steals, against four turnovers in 29 minutes against the Picanto.
“I had to no doubt that he can make an impact and he can lead the team as a rookie and that's exactly what he did,” Guiao said. “He's going to be a very special player in this league.”
“He's exactly what we're looking for and what the doctor ordered for us,” he added.
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