Gilas Pilipinas guard Dwight Ramos during the game against South Korea. Photo from Fiba
MANILA, Philippines—Guard Dwight Ramos is expected to arrive in the Philippines from Japan Friday evening to join Gilas Pilipinas in its preparation for the February window of the 2023 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said Ramos will join the rest of the Philippine national team and TNT’s bubble in Lipa, Batangas on Saturday.
Getting Ramos back into the fold was also done with as little effort needed as the 6-foot-4 point guard readily accepted the SBP’s call to go back to the Philippines despite risking his tenure with the Japanese club Toyama Grouses.
Ramos, who is playing in his first year in the Japan B.League, could get released from his contract if he gets infected with COVID-19 or gets injured during his stay in the Philippines.
@dram0s_ left for the Philippines to join Gilas. Good luck, Dwight!!#ドワイトラモス 選手はフィリピン男子代表チームに合流するため、日本を出国しました。明日からの茨城戦はラモス選手は出場いたしません。フィリピン代表での活躍を一緒に応援しましょう📣🇵🇭#富山グラウジーズ #喰らいつけ pic.twitter.com/50dRCNAC0o
— 富山グラウジーズ (@toyamagrouses) February 4, 2022
Gilas, despite already qualified for the Asia Cup, is still looking to put on a strong showing in the February window where it will play against South Korea twice, India, and New Zealand.
“When we reached out to Dwight he already showed interest to come over even risking his contract [with the Grouses] in the process,” said Panlilio. “It was [Gilas] manager Butch Antonio who took care of the negotiations.”
“If he contracts COVID or gets injured his team said they will not continue with his contract and if that happens we’ll be liable for it.”
Panlilio added that Ange Kouame, SJ Belangel, Will Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, and Juan Gomez de Liaño are already in the bubble.