Rafi Reavis: A captain after The Captain

At some point in the past decade, the term “captain” of a basketball team fell out of the limelight. There used to be a time when being a captain was equated to being the best player and the leader of the team. However, if I ask every single one of you who the captains are for all the PBA teams, you’d surely have a hard time. I know I would, too.

This is especially true for the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, the team formerly known as Purefoods. Their captain used to be THE Captain. Alvin Patrimonio, the four-time PBA Most Valuable Player, was everything a captain needed to be. Talented, passionate, and enigmatic, Patrimonio was the peg for all captains.

But what happens when that captain finally retires? How do you carry the cudgel dropped by one of the most revered names in the league?

Enter Rafi Reavis, Captain of the Grand Slam Champion San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.

“I think is my fif…sixth title with this team. The first one was in 2010, my first conference here after I was traded from Ginebra,” Reavis said inside the dugout after the Mixers won their fourth straight PBA title. It was his 10th PBA title as an individual.

Looking at the box score, it’s easy to look past the contributions Reavis had in the game. The box score lists he played one minute in the game but the truth is he played much less than that. Reavis only played the final seconds of the game for one last stop. He had a bunch of zeros across his name.

“You know, I came into the professional ranks as a Robin to Batman. That’s the role I’ve always played and that’s the role I want to play,” he said. “I don’t care if I don’t get the spotlight or have people talking about me because at the end of the day my goal is to have a successful team, to be a team player who can support other guys who need people like me. Like this guy,” Reavis said as he pointed to James Yap who was being interviewed on video beside him.

“There’s a job for everyone to do. I understood that early in my career and up to now that’s what I’m trying to do,” he added.

This, however, does not mean that Reavis has always been fine with being benched for some games. In one particular game in the 2014 Philippine Cup, Reavis stormed out of the locker room after not getting a single second of playing time in a San Mig loss.

“As a player, sometimes you see things that you could have possibly done to help your team on the floor and you get frustrated that you weren’t able to help,” admitted Reavis. “But that only lasts temporarily. That night, it ends. You don’t carry it over the next day.”

The day after his benching, San Mig head coach Tim Cone approached Reavis immediately after getting to practice. They talked for the a few seconds and everything was back to normal. Reavis knows that his great relationship with Cone is one of his biggest assets.

“I like the role because I always thought I was an extension of the coach. I love it because I think I have a lot to bring to the table,” the player said. “Being a veteran, I see a lot of new things that the new players don’t see yet. I know I’m the kind of person that other people respect. I think I’m a likeable guy so it’s easy to be a captain.”

Any other captain would break under the weight of following The Captain but Reavis is doing just fine. He does not mind being Robin to Batmans such as Yap, PJ Simon, and Marc Pingris. In terms of being a captain, he also doesn’t mind being the sidekick to Patrimonio.

“The respect I get from the coaches and the players has been amazing. Having a voice even if I’m not on the floor is great,” Reavis said. “I just want to win. As many more as God can bless me with. I play basketball to win.”

Patrimonio won six titles with Purefoods. Reavis has already equaled his tally after winning the 2014 Grand Slam.

It turned out the Mixers didn’t need the The Captain on the floor to remain successful. They just needed a captain, and they have a very good one.

After winning the coveted PBA Grand Slam, you’d think that Reavis would somehow relax and ease his mind out of basketball but you’re wrong. That’s not what captains do.

“I’m already thinking about next season and how we can continue this and go back to the Finals because no one is going to expect anything less right?”