UAAP

Ramos brings act to Japan B-League

September 11, 2021 Theodore P. Jurado 444 views

THE UAAP men’s basketball tournament won’t have a chance to see the highly-regarded forward Dwight Ramos to play for Ateneo.

The 23-year old Ramos, who became one of the vital cogs of the Gilas Pilipinas program in the previous FIBA Asia tournaments, had two years of eligibility for the Blue Eagles.

Instead, Ramos has decided to turn professional after signing with Japan’s B.League top-tier club Toyama Grouses.

Ramos became the eighth Filipino to play in the Japan pro basketball league – and the fifth in the first division.

The team announced his signing under the Asian Player Quota yesterday.

“I am very excited to play in the city of Toyama. It is a dream to play in such a beautiful city and country in Japan,” said Ramos.

“I hope to win a lot of games and bring pride to the city of Toyama together with my new teammates,” he added.

In the top-tier B.League, Ramos will be joined by San-En NeoPhoenix’s Thirdy Ravena, Shiga Lakestars’ Kiefer Ravena, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins’ Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Niigata Albirex BB’s Kobe Paras.

Other Filipinos who will strut their in the B.League’s second division are Ibaraki Robots’ Javi Gomez de Liaño, Earth Friends Tokyo Z’s Juan Gomez de Liaño and Aomori Wat’s Kemark Cariño.

Toyoma finished fourth in the East District in the previous B.League regular season, with a 43-16 record.

In college, Ramos played two years with Cal State Fullerton, a Division I school. He later transferred to Division 2 school Cal Poly Pomona in 2018.

The following year, the 6-foot-4 Ramos decided to come back home and play for Ateneo, the reigning three-time UAAP champions. He only played a couple of off-season tournaments for the Eagles.

Ramos was eligible for UAAP Season 83, but was scrapped due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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