Gilas Pilipinas guard Dwight Ramos. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu have returned to the country as Gilas Pilipinas started its preparation for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers February window.

Fresh off a weekend of Japan B.League action, Ramos and Edu joined the rest of the shorthanded Nationals for their quick training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna right before they fly to Qatar for a series of tuneup games.

“Dadating na si AJ Edu, dadating na si Ramos, pero yung iba dederetso na ng Doha,” said Gilas team manager Alfrancis Chua on Monday during the PBA’s launch of its 50th-anniversary logo in Mandaluyong.

Scottie Thompson, Calvin Oftana, and Jamie Malonzo were also among those who were seen entering the camp as shared by Inspire through a social media post.

Some of Gilas’ players will be traveling straight to Qatar and join them there on February 13.
Gilas Pilipinas team manager Alfrancis Chua. Photo by Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News."Si [Chris] Newsome, si [Carl] Tamayo, dederetso na don," said Chua of Meralco Bolts ace who will play first in the EASL, as well as the former UP Fighting Maroon who will be coming from Korea.

The Nationals will be staying there from the 13th until the 16th as they will be going up against Doha, Lebanon, and Egypt, and will be flying back here for a quick return trip on the morning of the 17th.

Also on the evening of February 17, Gilas will fly to Taipei ahead of their February 20 matchup against Taiwan, their penultimate game of the last window of the Qualifiers.

Gilas, which is already assured of a ticket into the Saudi Asia Cup in August, will conclude their assignments on February 23 in a much-anticipated rematch against New Zealand on the Tall Blacks’ home turf.

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