MANILA, Philippines — Dwight Ramos led Gilas Pilipinas with 16 points and eight rebounds but the Philippines fell 69-66 to New Zealand in the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Ramos shot 6-of-21 from the field and missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that could have forced overtime. He acknowledged his poor shooting efficiency and said he will strive to improve in future games.
“It’s kind of tough because I missed a lot of shots, obviously including the last one. I’ll just try to be better in the future. Hopefully, we all learn,” Ramos said.
The Japanese B.League import emphasized the importance of executing better in close games, noting that every possession matters. Gilas Pilipinas faces a crucial matchup against Australia.
