Dwight Ramos out for FIBA Asia Cup due to 'shin splints'

Dwight Ramos will sit out the FIBA Asia Cup. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Dwight Ramos has been ruled out for the FIBA Asia Cup.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced on Sunday that the Levanga Hokkaido star will be missing Gilas Pilipinas' campaign for the continental tournament after he was diagnosed with a medial tibial stress syndrome.

“We will definitely miss Dwight who’s one of our starters,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes.

According to the SBP in a statement, "Ramos has been dealing with pain in his left leg for the past week but it has become too much to overcome as he could not join the team for practice anymore."

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center defines the said syndrome, simply known as "shin splints", as "overuse injuries caused by repeated stress on the lower legs."

Shin splints happen among athletes in sports that require running like basketball.

Ramos was listed as part of the final 12-man lineup that Gilas will parade for the FIBA Asia Cup as announced on Saturday.

[Related Story: Ravena Bros to lead Gilas for FIBA Asia Cup as Ray Parks, Poy Erram make return]

However, following the injury bug, Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said that he will ask permission from FIBA during the pre-tournament technical meeting in Jakarta to have Ramos replaced with Rhenz Abando as the 12th player in the roster.

Reyes confirmed that Abando will be flying to the Indonesian capital too with Gilas despite being the "reserve".

"That’s the value of having a pool and the reason why Rhenz is making the trip with the team," said Reyes, who will only join Gilas along with Poy Erram on Monday after TNT's PBA Philippine Cup game against Ginebra later Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

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