FORMER collegiate stars Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng, US-based standout Kobe Paras, and 10-year pro JR Quiñahan embark on a new journey as they represent the country in the Fiba 3×3 World Cup next month in Nantes, France.
The team playing under the colors of the Chooks-Pilipinas 3×3 team is banking on youth and experience in its effort to dominate the 20-country tournament set from June 17 to 21.
“3-on-3 basketball is one area that Filipinos can excel in well. I guess it will be a big thing for us to take home the title,” said Ravena, a two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player (MVP) from Ateneo.
Ravena is teaming up with former foe Teng of De La Salle. He was the Finals MVP in Season 79, where the Green Archers swept the Blue Eagles in the finals.
What makes the crew a “dream team” of sorts is the addition of Paras, a 19-year-old star who is trying to be first Filipino-born player to suit up in a National Basketball Association team. He is based in the US playing for Middlebrooks in his junior days and now with Cal State Northridge after a brief one-year campaign at Creighton.
“I think our team is a perfect example of a 3-on-3 team. It’s going to be great and exciting,” Paras said.
Paras said his father, Philippine Basketball Association legend Benjie Paras, told him to make the most out of this opportunity to represent the country.
The younger Paras won the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Basketball Association Under-16 Championship in 2013 and was twice a part of the U18 3-on-3 national team.
“He just told me to play my game. I’m playing for the country and not for a school. So it’s totally different,” Paras said.
Quiñahan, a sweet-shooting big man who averages 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in the PBA, replaced former Far Eastern University star Reymar Jose, who has commitments with the Cignal Hawkeyes in the PBA D-League.
The Filipinos are bracketed with No. 2 Slovenia, No. 7 Romania, host France and El Salvador.
“It’s going to be tough. They will face tall and stronger players. But I am confident that they can adjust because they are all familiar with the tournament,” Head Coach Eric Altamirano said.
The country finished ninth last year in China, where Serbia took the gold, with the US and Slovenia completing the podium. The team was composed of Mac Belo, Karl Dehesa, Glen Khobuntin and Russel Escoto.