Dwight Ramos vows bounce-back game as Gilas falls short vs New Zealand

A late surge sparked by Dwight Ramos nearly rescued Gilas Pilipinas from the brink, but the comeback ran out of time as the Nationals absorbed a heartbreaking 69-66 loss to the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers Thursday night at Mall of Asia Arena.

In a game defined by defensive grit and missed opportunities, Ramos emerged as the focal point of Gilas’ late push—but also its most honest critic afterward.

Trailing by nine with just over three minutes left, the Philippines looked headed for a decisive defeat. Instead, Ramos ignited a final rally, scoring five straight points in the closing minute to cut the deficit to two. His deep triple brought the crowd back to life, and his second-chance layup kept Gilas within striking distance after a defensive stop.

When New Zealand missed a crucial free throw in the final seconds, the door briefly opened. Ramos pushed the ball upcourt and launched a long attempt from near the logo, hoping to force overtime—but the shot bounced off the backboard and rim as the buzzer sounded.

Despite leading Gilas with 16 points, Ramos struggled with efficiency, finishing 6-of-21 from the field—a stat line that weighed heavily on him after the game.

“It’s kind of tough because I missed a lot of shots. Obviously, I missed the last shot. I feel bad. I wish I was better today,” said Ramos, who led the team with 16 points, although he shot on a 6-of-21 clip.

The loss wasn’t defined by the final possession alone. Ramos acknowledged that the outcome was shaped by missed chances throughout the contest.

“Hopefully, we all learn. It’s a close game. Every possession counts. I’m just trying to be better,” he said.

Currently playing for Levanga Hokkaido, Ramos emphasized that stepping up offensively was part of sharing the load with naturalized star Justin Brownlee, who drew heavy defensive attention all night. 

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IN ST. DWIGHT WE TRUST

Dwight Ramos showed his grit on the court, leading Gilas Pilipinas’ scoring against New Zealand with 16 points in the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.#GilasPilipinas #FIBAWC #FIBAACQ pic.twitter.com/00pkpdS94I

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) February 26, 2026

“I mean, I just try to stay aggressive because obviously, a lot of the focus was on JB [Justin Brownlee]. If you just watch him and expect him to do everything, it’s a lot of load on him. Everyone has to be aggressive and play their part. I just try to do mine. I was not the best today, and I’ll just try to be better moving forward.”

“I was trying to bank it in, and it just didn’t fall. But it’s not just about that shot, you know? I missed a lot of other shots, and I just have to be better in the future,” Ramos told reporters after finishing with 16 points on 6-of-21 shooting, along with eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

For Ramos, the narrow defeat quickly shifts from frustration to urgency. Gilas faces another major test against the Australia men’s national basketball team, a matchup that leaves little time for the team to dwell on mistakes.

“Right now, all I can think about is my mistakes. I feel bad, but I gotta move on to the next game,” the Levanga Hokkado baller added.

The upcoming clash also marks a renewed chapter in the Philippines-Australia rivalry, with veteran guard Mitch Creek returning to the Boomers’ lineup. Ramos believes the lessons from the New Zealand game—and a productive training camp—can help Gilas respond.

“I think so. The coaches had a great game plan today, and the training camp was great. I think the game was this close because of the players’ effort and also the coaches’ game plan. We did a great job, and we’re all learning at the same time to try to be better,” Ramos shared.

“We’re gonna try and learn from this game. It was a close game; obviously, there’s a lot to learn because every possession counts. We’re gonna check over the mistakes and learn from this.”

While the loss stung, Ramos’ late-game charge highlighted a growing leadership role—one that Gilas will need as it attempts to regroup quickly and defend home floor in its next outing. 

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