In Athens, Greece, Kiefer Ravena stood among elite company — Michael Jordan, Luka Dončić, Zion Williamson, Bam Adebayo, and other world-class athletes — at the Jordan Brand’s exclusive Board of Greatness summit.
It was a surreal moment not just for Ravena, but for the Philippines. He remains the first and only Filipino athlete signed to the Jordan Brand, a feat that speaks to both his influence and relentless work ethic.
Greatness starts young
Long before suiting up for Gilas Pilipinas or the Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan’s B.League, Ravena was just a kid with big dreams. It’s this perspective he brings every time he returns to the grassroots.
During a basketball clinic held from May 24 to 25, 2025, at Trinity Christian School in Bacolod, Ravena took time to mentor the next generation.
“It’s very important to let them know at a young age what they’re going against,” he shared to SunStar Cebu. “It’s going to be tough — it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline. But at the same time, it’s fun and it can change your life.”
For Ravena, giving back to the youth has never been a side project — it’s a responsibility. He understands the doubts, the pressure, the temptation to quit. And so he tells the kids what he wishes someone had reminded him more often: remember the joy.
“It’s nice to dream and reach for the stars, but at the same time, basketball is fun. You’re supposed to enjoy it,” he said. “At a young age, I want them to love the game more than anything else.”
Staying grounded in glory
While many athletes may lose themselves to fame, Ravena has stayed rooted in humility. He attributes that mindset to the very players he admired as a child, athletes who never acted above others, no matter their stats.
“It’s a key part of sustaining who you really are, being humble, tracing your roots,” he explained.
“People can connect with you despite your popularity. You’re still a regular person. A lot of famous players don’t really possess that. But the people I looked up to did, so I try to emulate them.” Today, Ravena continues to blaze trails as a role model for young athletes who dare to dream.