By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Japan B. League isn’t taking actions lightly including what their Asian import players do on and off the court.
After a disappointing loss to the Toyama Grouses, San-En NeoPhoenix’s Thirdy Ravena was caught damaging a sponsor signboard on the baseline side of the court.
Due to his actions, the B. League slapped him with 100,000 Japanese yen (44,000 pesos) and a two-game suspension from December 4-5.
San-En was down by two points with two seconds left in the ball game and had the chance to tie and force overtime when Ravena was fouled after attempting to convert the designed alley-oop lay-up.
Ravena sank the first shot from the charity stripe but failed to convert on the second attempt. However, the ball went directly to him and had another chance of winning it for San-En but he missed the follow-up shot that went all board.
The first Filipino import signed by the B. League was then seen crying all over the sideline, covered with his white towel and was being consoled by fellow Pinoy Dwight Ramos and former PBA import Joshua Smith.
Ravena was quick to apologize to the league and his fans right after the incident and issued a public statement.
“With the series of losses and personal bad games, I let my emotions get the best of me. And the chance of actually winning a game, but losing it because of me was just too much at that point. Again, I apologize to everyone,” said Ravena.
NeoPhoenix’s general manager Hideki Higashi also broke his silence regarding what Ravena did and issued a public statement to the league, the fans of their team, and Toyama’s fans.
Ravena’s two-game suspension will keep him on the sidelines against the SeaHorses Mikawa, a must-win back-to-back for them.
