Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas will be missing Dwight Ramos when it plunges into the Asian Games in China later this month.
Ramos made the announcement on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum, shortly after helping the Philippines to a 96-75 win over China for a victorious end to a rather disappointing Fiba World Cup campaign on home soil.
“No. I’m not playing in the Asian Games,” he told reporters after an 11-point job that kept Gilas from going winless in the global showcase for a second straight time.
Ramos, who also turned 25 on Saturday, said he will be channeling his focus on the B.League, where he is plying his trade. He is currently with Levanga Hokkaido.
“It’s my first World Cup and I’m gonna take in all these games. All these players I’ve played against and had to guard and hopefully, it helps me have a great B.League season this year. That’s what I’m hoping for,” he said.
The development comes at a time when the national basketball program is also bracing for the Asian Games that will be held in China.
Among those expected to miss the campaign is Jordan Clarkson, who is likely to be back in Utah for the Jazz’s training camp geared toward the new NBA season.
Ramos’ decision could also influence that of Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and Kiefer Ravena who are all also playing in the Japanese pro league. Edu, who was big in this World Cup, is scheduled to debut for the Toyama Grouses.
That scenario will leave Gilas with just PBA players like June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Scottie Thompson to surround do-it-all forward Justin Brownlee, who has been pegged as the cutting edge of the campaign in Hangzhou.