GILAS Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos is unlikely to represent the Philippines in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as his commitment to Japanese club Levanga Hokkaido is expected to prevent him from joining the national team.
Ramos recently signed a new contract to return to Levanga Hokkaido for the 2026-27 Japan B.League season, marking his fifth straight campaign with the club.
With the B.League season opening in late September, its schedule overlaps with the Asian Games, which will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4. Since the continental meet is not a FIBA-sanctioned tournament, clubs are not obligated to release their players.
“It’s kind of tight, the schedule also. The [B.League] season is starting in September, and the Asian Games is also in September, and it’s not FIBA tournament. So, I don’t know if I can be able to join the team,” Ramos told The Manila Times.
Despite the expected conflict, the 27-year-old guard said he still hopes to wear the national colors.
“I wish I could. I definitely wish I could. People told me that it’s like the Olympics in Asia, so I wish I could, but it’s not under FIBA, so it’s hard for me to join,” he said.
Gilas Pilipinas has yet to announce its final 12-man roster for the Asian Games.
Ramos played in all six games during the July 2026 window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, averaging 13.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
He also missed the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou after Levanga Hokkaido declined to release him.
The Philippines enters the Aichi-Nagoya Games as the defending champion after ending a 61-year gold medal drought in Hangzhou, defeating Jordan, 70-60, in the final behind Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, and Scottie Thompson.