Star guard Dwight Ramos sits out Gilas Pilipinas game against Hong Kong in the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Fans clamored for Dwight Ramos in Gilas Pilipinas’ 93-54 win over Hong Kong in the second window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena Sunday night.
With 3:25 left to play Gilas looked to be in prime position to rout the Chinese with a whopping 81-51 lead but some fans were eager to see something else.
The majority of the 11,896 spectators in attendance started chanting “We want Dwight!” but the loud cheers didn’t get them what they wanted as Ramos completely spent the game on the sidelines.
READ: Gilas crushes Hong Kong to stay perfect in Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers
“We want Dwight,” chants echo throughout the MOA Arena.
Still no playing time from him with 3:25 to go in the game. Gilas leads 81-51. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Ofkj0Avszp
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) November 24, 2024
Ramos spoke with Inquirer Sports for a brief moment following Gilas’ defense of home court and said his nagging right knee was the reason for him being benched in the Philippines’ second home game in four days.
“I hurt my knee. My right knee. [I hurt it] in Japan on the first weekend when the season started,” said Ramos.
“I needed the extra day of rest probably ‘cause I still have some nagging pains but it’s just from coming back from injury. I got a flight back tomorrow (Monday to Japan) and will play this weekend so I still have a long season.”
Ramos also confirmed that he played hurt against New Zealand on Thursday’s historic 93-89 win.
Dwight Ramos tells @INQUIRERSports why he wasn’t able to play vs. Hong Kong.
The Japanese B.League Filipino-import cited a right knee injury for him sitting out Sunday’s game. #GilasPilipinas pic.twitter.com/bIq6nGUq1A
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) November 24, 2024
In that game, the Ateneo product played for 33 minutes and finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Ramos bared that the pain from his right knee wasn’t anything new and that it was from an injury he sustained during the first week of the Japan B.League’s 2024-25 season.
READ: Dwight Ramos sees self a better player after Gilas OQT
“I’m still coming back from injury. I was out for a month and I played a lot in the last game. I just have to get my condition back in shape,” he said.
Back in October, Ramos sustained a knee injury during Levanga Hokkaido’s opening weekend. He returned to action for Levanga in early November.
The 26-year-old guard flies back to Japan on Monday to continue his B.League duties with Hokkaido.