Gilas Pilipinas team captain Kiefer Ravena on Tuesday the first Filipino athlete to join endorse the Jordan line of sportswear, underscoring his elite status in local basketball.
NBA legend Michael Jordan's athletic wear brand welcomed the 27-year-old former King Eagle of Ateneo de Manila University to its roster of endorsers in a Twitter post.
"Thank you @jumpman23, I’m thankful for the opportunity to be the first Filipino joining the Jumpman Family," Ravena said on Instagram.
For Ravena, who grew up in a competitive family including a basketball player father and athlete siblings, being part the Jordan family is a milestone for Filipino fans.
"When you’re here, you really see the passion. You see the fire. No one wants to lose. Every time someone puts on the national team uniform, they feel united with one another. When games are live on TV, everyone stops what they’re doing to support. Everybody has their own opinion on how I should play; that’s how supportive Filipinos are when it comes to basketball," he shared in an Air Jordan article.
The 6'1" guard is a two-time UAAP champion and a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist. He was a developmental player for the NBA G-League and joined the NLEX Road Warriors in the Philippine Basketball Association.
