RICARDO Ratliffe last played in the Philippine Basketball Association in 2017 and stayed the most part of the last nine years in South Korea but he still feels very much connected with the PBA, loving the affection of the fans.
"I love the Philippines. It is actually fun to (play) basketball (there) than when I play here in Korea," said Ratliffe, now known as Ra Guna after his Korean naturalization.
"I really enjoyed it and the fans out there are the best I've ever seen, especially outside the US. It's the best I've ever seen," said Ratliffe in a fiba.com story.
"I feel like I have probably had more fans in the Philippines than I have here. I played there only probably a total of seven months and I played in Korea for like this is my ninth year. They love me and I love them, too. If I wasn't here, I'd be playing in the Philippines right now."
Ratliffe experienced Philippine basketball and the atmosphere in his tours of duty with the Star Hotshots (Magnolia) in the 2016 and 2017 editions of PBA Commissioner's Cup.
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The 6-foot-8 Missouri U product was a marquee reinforcement, giving Star tremendous boost, but the Hotshots ran into tough playoff matchups with San Miguel Beer in both occasions.
The Hotshots lost to the Beermen in the quarterfinals in 2016 and in the semis in 2017.
Nonetheless, Ratliffe made a big impact that Gilas Pilipinas considered him as a naturalization prospect but was beaten by South Korea in the recruitment process.
Another Philippine connection by Ratliffe is fellow Missouri product in Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson.
"When he came on his visit [to Missouri], I was the host," explained Ratliffe of their connection. "So I like to think I was one of the reasons that he decided to choose Mizzou of all the other choices that he had."
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They had their faceoff in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta where Ratliffe produced 30 points and 14 rebounds while Clarkson logged in 25 markers as the Koreans topped Gilas, 91-82, in the quarterfinals.
And Ratliffe must be following Philippine basketball as he knows Thirdy Ravena.
"(Ravena) is the future," said Ratliffe of the young Filipino player that he included in his all-time list of Asian aces.(SB)
