Kiefer Ravena has signed up with the Japanese basketball team Shiga Lakestars.
The Lakestars announced on Wednesday, June 2, that the 27-year old Filipino basketball player will join the team on the 2021-2022 season of the B.League in Japan.
"Ravena will be registered as the Asian Player Quotas," the Lakestars said in its official website.
"Please look forward to Ravena's success in B.League Japan, as well as being a connection bridge between Shiga Prefecture, Japan and Philippines," the team added.
The NLEX Road Warriors, the mother team of Ravena in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), showed its support for the decision of the player to bring his talent overseas.
However, the Road Warriors said that the plans of Ravena to play in Japan 'will need to conform to the terms of the UPC (Uniform Player Contract) as well as the rules and policies of the PBA'.
"We understand and support Kiefer’s desire for personal advancement. However, as a member of the PBA, we are duty-bound to abide by the rules and regulations that govern the league," the Road Warriors said in a statement.
"The NLEX Road Warriors stand by the tripartite agreement between our organization, the PBA, and the individual player, which is enshrined in the Uniform Player Contract," the team added.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has already said that UPC binds Ravena to the league, and prohibits him from playing in another basketball league, including those in other countries.
In September, Ravena signed a three-year contract with the Road Warriors.
Thirdy Ravena, the younger brother of the Road Warriors guard, currently plays in the B.League of Japan but under another team: the San-En Neophoenix.
