DWIGHT Ramos is expecting a tough battle when he faces fellow Gilas Pilipinas star AJ Edu as Levanga Hokkaido and Gunma Crane Thunders collide in the Japan B.League’s historic preseason games in Manila.
Edu had already issued a confident prediction that his Gunma side would beat Ramos and Levanga, but Ramos is hoping to have the last laugh when the two teams meet at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Hopefully not, but you know AJ’s team is really good,” Ramos said. “See what happens. Two games, so at least if we can split, yeah.”
The two Filipino standouts will headline the first-ever B.League overseas preseason games, with Levanga Hokkaido and Gunma scheduled to play on September 9 and 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Both games tip off at 7 p.m., giving Filipino fans a chance to watch Ramos and Edu compete against each other on home soil.
The Manila showcase also celebrates the B.League’s 10th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines.
For Ramos, the two-game series offers a unique opportunity to battle Edu while representing their respective Japanese clubs in front of Filipino fans.
With two games on the schedule, Ramos is already willing to settle for a split but clearly hopes his Levanga side can take both. (Jesus Nathaniel Valdez)
