Former NLEX Road Warrior point guard Kiefer Ravena says returning to the PBA will always be a possibility.
Kiefer Ravena has now spent equal years in the Japan B.LEAGUE and in the PBA, with 2025 marking his fourth year since he first played with the Shiga Lakes as an import.
Now with the Yokohama B-Corsairs, Ravena said that there is still the possibility of him returning home to the Philippines and playing in the PBA — a league where he played in from 2017 to 2021 with the NLEX Road Warriors.
During an interview on Power & Play, Ravena said that it would depend a lot on his upcoming marriage to beauty queen Diane Mackey and where they would decide to settle down.
[RELATED: Kiefer Ravena surprised to be a ‘hands on’ fiancé in engagement to Diana Mackey]
“Most definitely. I’m not gonna lie that I think about home, I think about the PBA. Obviously, my marriage is a big part [of] the decision whether or not we try to settle down back home or try it out for a couple of more years here,” said Ravena.
“I’ll still see. But strongly considering the opportunity. We’ll see. I still have this season to finish and see where it goes di ba?” he added.
The PBA has been on Ravena’s mind though, with the second-generation basketball star still watching games and looking out for his potential matchups if and when he decides to come back.
“But definitely, I would love to be back. I would love to challenge myself again and continue to see myself against the great players there in the PBA right now — especially ang daming magagaling,” said the two-time UAAP champion.
“There’s always a reason why I always continue to watch the PBA. A little scouting, here and there, who to guard and what to expect.”
As to where he wants to end up, Ravena feels there’s unfinished business with his former team, especially after leaving them hanging back in 2021.
After giving him the opportunity to grow in overseas leagues, the 31-year-old said he owes it to the NLEX organization to give back.
“To be honest, I really owe a lot to NLEX. Kasi kung hindi naman nila ako pinayagan in the first place, I wouldn’t be here. So it’s just right for me to give back to the team that allowed me to go to greener pastures and help them get back to the winning ways and you know, tignan natin kung ano mangyayari with that,” said Ravena.
“But I’m sure, coach Jong [Uichico], Boss Ronald [Dulatre], my former teammates ano din sila, excited din sila if ever I do come back,” he continued.
Ravena, though, is expected to first finish off his B.LEAGUE season with Yokohama. There, he’s normed 9.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 32 games so far.
Yokohama is 12-20 for the season.