Gilas mainstays Ramos, Edu square off

Gilas Pilipinas stars Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu are ready to give Filipino basketball fans a glimpse of what they have been doing in Japan when they face each other in the Japan B.League Manila Games on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. as Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido takes on Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders in one of two exhibition games marking the first time the B.League has staged games outside Japan.

It will also be the first time Ramos and Edu find themselves on opposite sides on home soil after years of playing together for Gilas, particularly in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

For Ramos, the opportunity to play before Filipino fans is something he has been looking forward to, especially since most of them have only seen him live during international competitions.

“I think that everybody knows that the Philippines has a lot of basketball fans; it’s our main sport, so they already knew that coming in, but I’m just excited to see how many people come out and show them the Filipino spirit of basketball,” Ramos said.

“This is the chance for the fans to see me play the type of basketball we have been playing in the B.League and what we have been exposed to. Hopefully they can appreciate the game and appreciate high-level basketball.”

Ramos and Edu last shared the MOA Arena floor together in the fourth window of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers, when the Philippines posted a convincing 68-56 victory over Iran last week.

Edu, meanwhile, is relishing the chance to showcase his game in front of his family, particularly his mother’s side, who have mostly watched him play through television and online streams.

“It really feels pretty surreal. Feels kind of like two worlds colliding, having the Japanese Gunma team here now. I’m really excited just for this whole experience and showcase, and I’m glad my whole team and organization gets to experience the Philippines,” Edu said.

“It’s just the privilege of kinda playing in front of my family, especially on my mom’s side. Being here in the Philippines, they always support me, watching me on YouTube and on TV. But for them to see this side of my basketball life is a huge blessing.”

The Manila Games also highlight the growing presence of Filipino talent in Japan’s top professional basketball league.

Aside from Ramos and Edu, Kiefer Ravena, Matthew Wright, Ray Parks, Thirdy Ravena and Mike Phillips are among the other Filipinos playing in the B.League.

Meanwhile, Otsuka-Solar Philippines Inc. president Ken Saito said the company has continued to support Gilas players competing in Japan as part of its partnership with the B.League.

“Our headquarters, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, has a partnership with the B.League in Japan. When they have an event, we go there and support them in some way,” Saito said.

“As I said, our main products are CNS, or central nervous system, products. So, we also have a network in the psychiatric field. Sometimes, we also offer lectures or training sessions together with our doctors and that’s also what we are doing.”