MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas swingman Dwight Ramos appeared unfazed upon learning about the Philippines’ group in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this August.

In fact, the Levanga Hokkaido import in the B.League has redemption in mind.

READ: Dwight Ramos inks extension with Levanga in B.League

“I always have to play against New Zealand. That was my initial thought,” said Ramos during the B.League Final Week Manila event at Gateway Mall on Saturday. “Then obviously, we lost to Taipei, so we want to get ours back.”

Gilas is grouped with Chinese Taipei, New Zealand and Iraq in Pool D of the continental championship.

Dwight Ramos has Asia Cup in his calendar this August with Gilas Pilipinas. His first reaction upon seeing the grouping?

“Every year I have to play against New Zealand.” @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/CrLXX2ZXCQ

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) May 24, 2025

Gilas may not have some recent encounters with Iraq on the Fiba level but when it comes to Taipei and New Zealand, recent history hasn’t been too kind for Ramos and Gilas.

The Philippines dropped its last two games of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, both at the hands of the Chinese and the Tall Blacks.

Ramos, however, also acknowledged that while motivation won’t be lacking, it will still be a tough go-around for Gilas without star center, Kai Sotto.

READ: No rush for Kai Sotto to return to Gilas, says Tim Cone

“The Asian Cup is going to be tough, for sure. We don’t have Kai but we’re going to figure it out and see who’s available. Our job as the players is to show up and do our best,” said Ramos, who recently inked an extension with Hokkaido.

”It’s just [the] qualifiers, you know. So, the goal is just to qualify, it’s not to win every single game.”

Ramos said he is returning to the United States to train before flying back to the Philippines and rejoin Gilas before their Asia Cup campaign happening in two months.