Thirdy Ravena after EASL results: And they thought playing in Japan, Korea was easy

MANILA, Philippines – Japanese B.League import Thirdy Ravena called out those who still doubt the level of competition in Japan and Korea after the PBA team received a baptism of fire in the East Asia Super League Champions week.

After PBA representatives San Miguel and TNT defeated the Japanese club in the EASL opener, Ravena took to social media to express his thoughts.

“And they think it’s easy to play here,” the San-En NeoPhoenix star wrote on Twitter.

“And they think it’s easy to play in Japan and Korea,” Ravena said in another version of her Instagram story.

and they think playing here is easy… 😅

— Thirdy (@ThirdyRavenaaa) March 2, 2023

But Ravena’s thoughts didn’t sit well with San Miguel guard Chris Ross, who joined the Beermen in the EASL where he clobbered 28 points from B.League representatives Ryukyu Golden Kings as star center June Mar Fajardo had the most. corresponding.

“There is no need to expel anyone. You don’t know what’s going on here, just calm down,” Ross told Ravena.

Ravena responded and cleared the air, saying his tweet did not refer to the PBA team, but fans who constantly criticized players who chose to act abroad, including him and his brother Kiefer.

“Big brother don’t say disrespect to anyone. My father is in one of the teams, why me? I don’t even throw shade in PBA. The tweet is for all Filipino basketball fans who disrespect and hate some of us for coming out here, especially me and my brother,” Thirdy said.

Bong, the father of the Ravena brothers, was part of the TNT squad, which lost 99-66 to Ustunomiya Brex last Wednesday.

Ross also responded to Ravena’s tweet quoting College of Saint Benilde coach Charles Tiu saying “It’s not easy to win international games.”

“Not only health and the right imports also help. We finished top 4 in the last EASL and we didn’t hear anything about winning and so on,” said the San Miguel star. “This team has imports all season. We’ve been playing with Cam for a month and Jessie for 5 days. Let’s go now!”

Tiu, who recently coached Strong Group-Philippines at a tournament in Dubai where the team exited in the quarterfinals, sympathized with the Beermens’ plight but raised questions about the improvement of other leagues in East Asia.

I feel for you bro. You also play without Junmar. But during the last EASL, you were the best team in PH, and we didn’t make it, but it’s still a good achievement when now all the PBA teams are broken, which is annoying.. are other leagues better than ours?

—Charles Tiu (@charlestiu) March 2, 2023

“But in the last EASL, you were the best team in PH, and we failed, but it’s still a good achievement when now all the PBA teams are broken, which is worrying.. are other leagues better than our league?”

Division 2 player Greg Slaughter also posted a cryptic tweet: “Fact check”

Fact check 👀

— Greg Slaughter (@GWillSlaughter) March 2, 2023

Former Ateneo player turned coach Bacon Austria also had something to say about the PBA team’s struggles.

“The PBA team [don’t] takes EASL seriously, we all know,” said Austria, son of former SMB coach Leo. “We all know it’s like a vacation for him.”

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