VETERAN big man Rafi Reavis takes pride playing defense that one of his unforgettable moments in the PBA came late in his playing career.
It was 2018 to be exact, when the 6-foot-8 center was named part of the league's All-Defensive team for the very first time.
The Magnolia big man made it to the selection that had the likes of Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood, the San Miguel pair of June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross, and fellow Hotshots teammate Rome Dela Rosa.
Reavis was 41 years old then when he received the individual honor.
"That was a long time coming. Definitely being recognized and honored for that before my career ended, I really appreciated that because I really honed my game around defense," said the product of Coppin State.
Sponsored content: That same season, Reavis collected the latest of the 11 championships he'd won in the league by far as the Hotshots beat the Alaska Aces in the finals, 4-2, to rule the season-ending Governors' Cup.
As an 18-year veteran, Reavis, now 43, have had the tough task of being the last frontier of defense during his stints with Coca-Cola, Barangay Ginebra, and the Purefoods franchise, where he had been a mainstay for more than a decade now.
In all those years, the Fil-Am big man from New York City considered six-time MVP Fajardo as the toughest matchup he had among local players.
"June Mar by far," he told the sports program The Huddle. "I can give a whole lot of reasons why, but probably half of them I would get in trouble for saying. So I won't say anything."
But joking aside, Reavis said Fajardo is a big, strong guy who's very much skilled.
Sponsored content: "He's tough, he's skilled. He's big, he's strong, and he's a tough guy. And his awards speak for themselves," said the Magnolia stalwart, a first round pick of Coca-Cola in the 2002 draft.
Reavis had been signed by the Hotshots to return for a 12th season with the franchise.
He suited up for the Hotshots in the last Philippine Cup bubble, where the team reached the playoffs but lost to Phoenix Super LPG in the quarterfinals. Reavis averaged 4.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. per game. (RG)
