PRIZED guard Dwight Ramos is more than willing and ready to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas.
He is just hoping he will have enough time to train with the nationals and quarantine measures would allow him to play in the first window of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers in November.
“Gilas has been a good preparation for me, playing in the qualifiers and the OQT,” Ramos said last Monday night on the online show The Game.
“I think Gilas really prepared me for this and can’t wait to get to work,” he added.
In a surprise turn of events, the 6-foot-5 Ramos was signed by the Grouses to a one-year contract as an Asian import last week, joining seven other Filipino cagers in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The 6-foot-5 Ramos said he will heed the call if coach Tab Baldwin taps him.
“For this November, I’m just looking towards how the quarantine situations are going to be in both countries if I decide to come back,” Ramos said.
“As long as coach Tab (Baldwin) and everyone else wants me out there, I’m going to keep trying my best to make it to the window to practice and play for them.”
He averaged 13.8 points, on top of 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Filipino cagers in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
Ramos, 23, said he will not turn his back on flag and country duties.
“I’m always going to be playing for Gilas,” he said.
“It will always be part of my roots.”
The likes of Kiefer Ravena of the Shiga Lakestars, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. of Nagoya, Kobe Paras of Niigata Albirex BB, Juan Gomez de Liaño of Tokyo Z, Javi Gomez de Liaño of Ibakari, and Kenmark Carino of Aomori are the other Filipino dribblers set to see action in Japan.
Thirdy Ravena was the first Filipino to play in the Japan league last year for San-En NeoPhoenix.
