Two (or three) games in, and I'm still astounded by the fact that only a few (I can count by my fingers) of the UAAP players actually made huge improvements to their game.
In the United States, this is what college basketball analysts term as the "jump." It occurs when the roles are expanded for certain players due to the departure of prominent and key pieces to their school's basketball team. In the league, more than the TV hype, I'm just left...wanting. There's just not enough guys who actually wanted to make the "jump."
What is the offseason for? Is it to chow down (Mr. Bono, it's good to see you)? Catching up on academics to be eligible to play next season (Jobe knows)? Shoot commercials (Oh was that Jeron?)? Is a player going to retool? What facet of his game will he improve on? Will he even improve at all or has he plateaued?
Are we all agreeing this time that only Rabeh Al-Hussaini has enjoyed such a leap after all these years in the UAAP? I practically dare anyone to name me a player who went from being the ire of the fanbase to legend. As for the complete opposite, there's another moment for that (hi to Leo Canuday this week!).
Last week, we went to Morayta where a senior guard magically turned into a two-way superstar after being an offensive afterthought the previous season.
Looks like I'm coming home to Loyola Heights this time around.
While the offense did present equal opportunities for his players to score, it is still anchored on one guy who makes the play, whether that leads to a direct basket from the individual or to a hockey assist as the ball swings from strong side to weakside in an uncanny misdirection that eventually ends up in the initiator's hands. Meaning, as Thirdy took time off the ball, he knew it was coming back to him, that he will be taking the shot, or making the decision whether to hit the open man at the corner (there is ALWAYS a man open in the corner young buck, take note if you want to manage a team), or any open man as the defense is collapsing.
It's also imperative to take note that this is the second jump that Ravena is experiencing. He only put up paltry stats as a rookie (token 1ppg-1rpg stuff mind you), and increased his output to a 9.9-7.8-2.3 per game line last year while being able to cash in at 41.7% from the floor (Kiefer never even broke the 40s after his sophomore outing). Also, one thing to keep in mind was that Ravena was somewhat out of control with his athletic gifts last year as well as decision making as he averaged 2.9 turnovers a game, cancelling out his assists technically.
In three games so far in Season 80, Thirdy has been downright beasting. While his decision making has been quite the same the offensive output has been phenomenal while maintaining the ability to still cover the other team's best player. Do you see a pattern yet with how I judge big jumps?
In more ways than one, it might be a huge statement coming from me, but Thirdy is seeing a better UAAP career in terms of how his advanced numbers are playing out compared to his much-celebrated brother who suffered a very steep decline from his Sophomore year (that Champion Kiefer versus MVP Kiefer debate will have to wait another day).
Putting up a stat line of 18 points a game with nine rebounds while canning in 50% of his shots as a guard or forward in Tab's lineups is a huge thing while being able to harness his elite athleticism to get where he wants and how he wants it. One surprising thing is, he's shooting a very high 55% when he's defended, and that means he's at the teeth of the defense, not fishing for a foul (hi Kiefer, Jeron), and finishing amidst the contact.
You can see him take time off plays when he's just probing, probing, then when he hits his teammate for the pass, it's either his teammate did not react to his intention quickly or a defender instinctively putting his hands up looking to negate an overhead pass. He reads his defense better now and is better getting driving lanes for himself and, as tough as it is for me to compare, is like a LeBron James dissecting his opponents before putting his head down and kiss everyone good night.
Seeing Thirdy on the open floor is like seeing the King with how he surveys his land, in a slow steady gallop, knowing where he should land, or where his teammates should be positioning themselves. When he sees a gap, before you even know it, Ravena's accelerator revved already and is up in the air like his daddy-o did in Purefoods, and it's touchdown. Or if you are quite unlucky, you are brutally emasculated on the way to the cup with an And-1 on your head.
Players making a huge jump in terms of their level of play is always something that gets my adrenaline pumping. You don't know they had "it." That special sauce that makes people turn into stars in their own right through sheer hard work and betting on oneself.
That's what makes college basketball special.
That's what makes each season different.
And it's quite refreshing to see a Ravena just plainly focusing on basketball again instead of showbiz.
In the United States, this is what college basketball analysts term as the "jump." It occurs when the roles are expanded for certain players due to the departure of prominent and key pieces to their school's basketball team. In the league, more than the TV hype, I'm just left...wanting. There's just not enough guys who actually wanted to make the "jump."
What is the offseason for? Is it to chow down (Mr. Bono, it's good to see you)? Catching up on academics to be eligible to play next season (Jobe knows)? Shoot commercials (Oh was that Jeron?)? Is a player going to retool? What facet of his game will he improve on? Will he even improve at all or has he plateaued?
Are we all agreeing this time that only Rabeh Al-Hussaini has enjoyed such a leap after all these years in the UAAP? I practically dare anyone to name me a player who went from being the ire of the fanbase to legend. As for the complete opposite, there's another moment for that (hi to Leo Canuday this week!).
Last week, we went to Morayta where a senior guard magically turned into a two-way superstar after being an offensive afterthought the previous season.
Looks like I'm coming home to Loyola Heights this time around.
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| (Photo Credit: Arvin Lim, Fabilioh) |
Thirdy Ravena, G-F, Ateneo Blue Eagles
Last year, Thirdy Ravena led the Blue Eagles in scoring in what people term as "equal opportunities" offense under Tab Baldwin.While the offense did present equal opportunities for his players to score, it is still anchored on one guy who makes the play, whether that leads to a direct basket from the individual or to a hockey assist as the ball swings from strong side to weakside in an uncanny misdirection that eventually ends up in the initiator's hands. Meaning, as Thirdy took time off the ball, he knew it was coming back to him, that he will be taking the shot, or making the decision whether to hit the open man at the corner (there is ALWAYS a man open in the corner young buck, take note if you want to manage a team), or any open man as the defense is collapsing.
It's also imperative to take note that this is the second jump that Ravena is experiencing. He only put up paltry stats as a rookie (token 1ppg-1rpg stuff mind you), and increased his output to a 9.9-7.8-2.3 per game line last year while being able to cash in at 41.7% from the floor (Kiefer never even broke the 40s after his sophomore outing). Also, one thing to keep in mind was that Ravena was somewhat out of control with his athletic gifts last year as well as decision making as he averaged 2.9 turnovers a game, cancelling out his assists technically.
In three games so far in Season 80, Thirdy has been downright beasting. While his decision making has been quite the same the offensive output has been phenomenal while maintaining the ability to still cover the other team's best player. Do you see a pattern yet with how I judge big jumps?
In more ways than one, it might be a huge statement coming from me, but Thirdy is seeing a better UAAP career in terms of how his advanced numbers are playing out compared to his much-celebrated brother who suffered a very steep decline from his Sophomore year (that Champion Kiefer versus MVP Kiefer debate will have to wait another day).
Putting up a stat line of 18 points a game with nine rebounds while canning in 50% of his shots as a guard or forward in Tab's lineups is a huge thing while being able to harness his elite athleticism to get where he wants and how he wants it. One surprising thing is, he's shooting a very high 55% when he's defended, and that means he's at the teeth of the defense, not fishing for a foul (hi Kiefer, Jeron), and finishing amidst the contact.
You can see him take time off plays when he's just probing, probing, then when he hits his teammate for the pass, it's either his teammate did not react to his intention quickly or a defender instinctively putting his hands up looking to negate an overhead pass. He reads his defense better now and is better getting driving lanes for himself and, as tough as it is for me to compare, is like a LeBron James dissecting his opponents before putting his head down and kiss everyone good night.
Seeing Thirdy on the open floor is like seeing the King with how he surveys his land, in a slow steady gallop, knowing where he should land, or where his teammates should be positioning themselves. When he sees a gap, before you even know it, Ravena's accelerator revved already and is up in the air like his daddy-o did in Purefoods, and it's touchdown. Or if you are quite unlucky, you are brutally emasculated on the way to the cup with an And-1 on your head.
Players making a huge jump in terms of their level of play is always something that gets my adrenaline pumping. You don't know they had "it." That special sauce that makes people turn into stars in their own right through sheer hard work and betting on oneself.
That's what makes college basketball special.
That's what makes each season different.
And it's quite refreshing to see a Ravena just plainly focusing on basketball again instead of showbiz.
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