Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos during the match against India. FIBA PHOTO
Dwight Ramos’ absence from the Hanoi-bound Gilas Pilipinas roster released by the country’s top sporting bodies on Thursday had fans perplexed.
And rightfully so. Ramos, a big guard plying his wares overseas, was easily the men’s basketball team’s most efficient player throughout the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers and the February window of the World Cup Qualifiers here.
In an Instagram post, national coach Chot Reyes explained the reason behind Ramos’ absence from the final roster for the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
“Dwight still has obligations with his team in Japan so he begged off,” the post read.
FILE–Japeth Aguilar. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Gilas mentor also explained that high-leaping forward Japeth Aguilar would be missing the biennial meet due to the leg problem he sustained during Barangay Ginebra’s run-up to the Governors’ Cup last month.
“Japeth’s calf … is still not 100%,” he went on.
Earlier, Reyes told the Inquirer that Robert Bolick will also miss the regional sporting event to tend to his ailing father in the United States, thus paving the way to the addition of Kiefer Ravena.
Ravena thus stands on the doorstep of a record sixth gold medal in the SEA Games.
With Ramos and Bolick unavailable, Ravena very well plugs that hole in Gilas Pilipinas’ playmaking spot.
At Gilas, he reunites with his brother Thirdy, whom he played alongside with in previous Fiba qualifying windows. The older Ravena also gets to rejoin with his NLEX teammate Kevin Alas.