MANILA, Philippines – Basketball phenom Kiefer Ravena has been added into the Gilas Pilipinas’ 15-man pool as potential replacement to injured Talk N’ Text veteran guard Jayson Castro.

Castro suffered a soleus muscle strain on his right calf in October and had to be sidelined for 4 to 6 weeks which leads him to miss the 30th SEA Games.

Preparations for the biennial meet has gone fever pitch as the opening date for the 30^th SEAG is fast approaching.

It is slated Nov. 30 to Dec. 11, 2019.

Ravena was chosen by no other than National team head coach Tim Cone and his staff to be a part of Team Philippines once again.

Ravena has already won four SEA Games gold medals previously but his inclusion is not airtight as Cone has yet to trim the Gilas pool down to 12 final list of players.

Gilas Pilipinas beat Alab Pilipinas in a tune-up match last night, 98-96, as the national team, solidified its preparation for the biennial meet.

Gilas is set to play opposite Alab again on Monday and against a pro team from Taiwan on November 18. (Lloyd Tagbago/IAMIGO/CNS)