Starting from the bottom

Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Thirdy Ravena on slam dunks, the best advice from big brother Kiefer, and basketball Grammys.

MANILA, Philippines - It’s a long and arduous climb to the top, and Ateneo Blue Eagles rookie Thirdy Ravena is well aware of it.

It would’ve been easy to rest on his laurels, though. As a star player of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets, young Thirdy stood out for setting the court on fire with his triple-doubles (the ability to accumulate a double-digit number total in three of five statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots) and his rim-clattering slam dunks. Not to mention, Thirdy comes from a family of storied athletes: both his dad Bong and brother Kiefer are champion basketball players, and his mom Mozzy and sister Dani are accomplished volleyball players.

That would’ve been enough for Thirdy to simply cruise through the rest of university life — a great history and a solid last name — but it looks like he chooses not to. Thirdy may walk and talk like a regular kid, listening to Drake and charming his professors into extending deadlines, but he’s nonetheless stern with himself about constantly improving his game. Like the rest of his teammates, the 17-year-old tirelessly practices for every game, even when he knows that he may not even get the chance to play.

Last Wednesday, the Ateneo Blue Eagles got booted out of the semifinals against National University, a team they’ve yet to beat in the last two years. Despite the team’s aching loss, Young STAR still thinks that The Blue Eagle’s small forward rookie is definitely one to watch. We recently caught up with Thirdy to talk about going back to being a freshman and the importance of working hard for what you get. From the looks of it, Thirdy doesn’t want to play around. He just wants to play ball.

YOUNG STAR: Did getting into basketball feel inevitable to you?

THIRDY RAVENA: Actually, I started playing baseball first when I was in grade school. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay out too long under the sun. I had a thin mucus membrane, so whenever I’d stay out too long my nose would start to bleed. So I moved on to basketball, but they told me my footwork was bad. So I did badminton first to improve my footwork, then went back to basketball.

Honestly, I didn’t take it too seriously at first. In my second year in high school, I was just cruising through. I wasn’t getting played. Then it hit me, that I should do something about it. Ever since that season, I worked day and night just to get my game up. In the third year, that’s when I really played.

You were the superstar player in your high school varsity team. What’s it like to go back as a rookie?

Yeah, I’m the youngest in the team, but I’m like their yaya. (Laughs) They ask me to do everything. Actually, it’s pretty hard. At some point in time, you’re always gonna fall. You have to find a way to get back up and do something about it. What I’m doing now is that I’m still working hard, even though I’m not getting played that much. I’m still preparing, still getting ready. I still do whatever it takes to contribute to the team.

How does it feel to be teammates with your brother Kiefer?

It’s amazing. We haven’t been teammates officially ever, so this is the first time we’ve experienced being together in one team. So that gives me the jitters to even think about being with him. The first time I tried being with him on the same team was in high school. He was in his senior year and I was a freshman. I tried out for the team, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to get in at first. That was our only chance to be teammates in high school so I told myself, “I really wanna be teammates with him.”

How different are your playing styles?

He’s more of the mental guy. He’s really good in terms of basketball IQ. His court sense is great. He knows where everyone’s going, he knows what everyone’s gonna do… he’s super smart. You can’t even believe how smart he is on the court. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever seen, and he teaches me what to do… I’m more of the athletic, more physical player. I’m quicker, I guess. I can jump high, which I got from my dad. He was a slam dunk champion. I think I got those genes from him.

Has your brother given you any advice worth noting?

Just wait for your time. Everyone has to wait for their time. You can’t always have your way when you want it. It’s like respect. You don’t just get respect. You have to earn it… He told me that UAAP is way different than what you think. When he told me, I was like, “No, it’s okay, I got this.” It turns out, when I played my first game, I thought I played really, really well, but I scored zero. That’s when it hit me.

Having the background that you do, do you think that things are easier for you or do you have to work harder for anything you want?

Actually, I really work harder. In the house, it’s really competitive. It’s like another tournament from UAAP. Pag umuwi kami, pag kumakain, kwentuhan. “Uy nakita mo yung shot ko noong game?” We’ll talk about it. “Wala ka naman, kulang!” (Laughs) Before my brother got the MVP award, that’s the only thing that I could tease him. “Wala ka namang MVP eh!” Now I can’t. (Laughs)

Aw, now you can’t tease him about it!

Yeah, I know. I have to work harder for something he hasn’t been able to win yet.

Yeah, you have to get… what do people in sports win? Basketball Oscars?

(Laughs) Basketball Grammy? But really, I don’t mind. We can always shine together.

Smooth. Is it true that basketball players are also players off the court?

It’s a myth. Everyone’s different. You can’t just judge someone because of what they do. You can have game, but not be a player. You can use your game to get the girl you want.

Do you have a basketball move to get the girl you want?

(Laughs) I don’t have one. It’s just me being nice.

Why do you think girls like athletes so much?

I don’t know if it applies to everyone, but I guess they like tall guys.

You recently tweeted about being awkward around a girl you like. What was that about?

I can’t act properly around the girl I like. I can’t think straight. Like, should I not say it, is it gonna make her laugh? It’s not like I can impress her by being an athlete ’cause she’s also an athlete. (Laughs)