CKSC’s Gallego looks forward to emulate basketball idol Kiefer Ravena

MANILA, Philippines – If you ask the current crop of high school basketball players, from San Beda’s Nikko Abatayo, Andrei Caracut and Marc Diputado to Far Eastern University’s Marvin Lee to Letran’s Noah Lugo to Hope Christian High School’s Jollo Go among many others, the basketball star they look up to or idolize is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

Curry is known as a deadeye long-range shooter and has an excellent feel for the game that allows him to make superb and timely assists to teammates.

On the other hand, John Vincent Gallego, the Chiang Kai Shek College Blue Dragons’ marvelous shooting guard who has led his school to a multitude of titles in the past two seasons, looks up to a player who is closer to home – Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena.

Gallego admits that his pull-up jumper is all Ravena. “Ang hirap bantayan ni Kiefer kasi marami siyang klaseng tira. Yung pull-up jumper niya ang taas ng elevation niya at hindi basta basta mababantayan. Tapos ang galing pa niya pumasa ng bola.”

More than ever this year, with a more talented cast behind him in point guard Fran Yu and front court monsters Shannon Gagate and Jonas Tibayan, the 5’10” Gallego has diversified his game by learning to make a pass at the right time and the right place.

“And si Kiefer, off the court, ibang klase rin,” gushed Gallego. “Yung mga ginagawa niya to help yung mga nangangailangan nakaka-inspire. Team leader din siya; lead by example talaga.”