HOW could a Phenom as blessed as Kiefer Ravena spend his 25th birthday?
The only way he knows: by giving back.
The stalwart staged his first-ever Chooks-to-Go Phenom Cup -- a golf tournament that raised proceeds for the benefit of Jerrick Balanza and Rolly Manlapaz's family last October 24.
"I just want to help these people who are part of the basketball world in my own special way," said Ravena during the event at Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo.
Manlapaz, an institution in the local sporting scene, took his final bow last September 27 after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Balanza, on the other hand, is coming off a brain tumor surgery that cost the Letran forward the latter half of the NCAA Season 94.
Over 66 golfers from all levels joined the event, including the likes of Creamline star Alyssa Valdez, former TNT coach Nash Racela, national team manager Butch Antonio, former Ateneo baseball great Matt Laurel, and celebrity John Estrada.
Aside from the buy-in, the participants also made donations for the beneficiaries, raising the funds to P200,000.
On Wednesday, Ravena personally handed out checks to Balanza and the Manlapaz family who both received P100,000 each.
"We can’t thank you guys enough in helping us brighten other people’s lives. They say, 'Success is not measured by the size of your bank account, but by the number of lives you’ve touched,'" Ravena shared.
The event was also sponsored by Mighty Sports.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
