AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos have faith all-PBA Gilas team will deliver

FILE–Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos during the pregame introductions against Australia in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Perth.–FIBA PHOTO

SCHEDULE: Gilas Pilipinas men at Asian Games 2026 5×5 basketball

AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos battled from opposite sides on Wednesday night during the preseason feature of the Japan B.League at Mall of Asia Arena.

Forty basketball minutes later, the long-time Gilas Pilipinas teammates were back on the same page. They believe the national squad out to defend the country’s basketball gold in the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, is fit for the task.

Edu, who played sparingly in the Gunma Crane Thunders’ 98-81 domination of Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido, said he saw firsthand how much heart the Japan-bound squad has.

“Filipinos always show heart, definitely. I’m sure they’ll show heart and represent us well for the Asian Games,” he said, after dropping three points, seven rebounds and four assists in the Gunma win.

The Gilas squad competing in the continental games is completely different from the one that included both Edu and Ramos a few weeks back.

But the two national team stalwarts are not belittling the team’s chances.

“We had a tuneup and they played really well. I was there. They played fast and it felt like they practiced [together] for a long time,” said Ramos, who tallied 13 points in the Hokkaido loss.

Ramos also acknowledged the doubts surrounding the Asian Games Gilas camp and rallied support for the all-PBA team.

“I know the Asian Games are coming and a lot of people are worried. But they (the current Gilas batch) are there for a reason. They’re stepping up so just support them as much as you can. Win or lose, they’re trying their best.”