Dwight Ramos decides to stay in Japan after signing with Hokkaido

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Gilas Pilipinas’ young cadet Dwight Ramos won’t be returning to the country anytime soon after getting acquired by the Levanga Hokkaido team for the next season of the Japan B. League.

The news came quickly after the Toyama Grouses opted not to re-sign Ramos for another season which led to his name floating on the free agency list.

Ramos blossomed into a more complete player with the Grouses and averaged an impressive 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game during his first year as an Asian import.

“I’m very excited to play for Hokkaido next season. I was able to visit Hokkaido twice the last season and I loved the city both times,” said Ramos.

The same as Toyama, the Hokkaido squad is also making its first step for a re-build after a disappointing 2021-2022 B. League season when they managed to win only 21 games and lost 35 of them.

“I’m also looking forward to playing with very talented players in Hokkaido and hopefully making a run in the playoffs next season!” Ramos added.

Ramos, who is yet to suit up for the Gilas Pilipinas men’s national team after being selected as a member of the pool by head coach Chot Reyes, is still uncertain if he can reinforce the team this year.

Initially, Ramos was called up to be a member of the current Gilas pool competing in the 2022 Southeast Asian Games but his name together with Caelum Harris didn’t make the cut before flying to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Ramos became a top overseas recruit after leading Gilas to an undefeated FIBA Asia campaign under the tutelage of former head coach Tab Baldwin and was also a key player during their back-to-back sweep of the South Korean national team led by Ricardo Ratliffe, the former PBA import of the Magnolia Hotshots.