Navigating his rookie season in the B.LEAGUE, FE Nagoya’s Francis Lopez leans on the experience and guidance of fellow import Dwight Ramos and Kiefer Ravena to find his footing in Japan.
Francis Lopez is the latest Filipino talent to take the leap to the Land of the Rising Sun, joining the Fighting Eagles Nagoya in Japan’s B.League last April.
[ALSO READ: Francis Lopez bids UP goodbye, turns pro with B. League]
But stepping into a new country, a new culture, and a professional basketball league is no easy feat—and Lopez has relied on some of his fellow kababayans to navigate the transition.
“My closest one is actually Dwight [Ramos], and we text every day,” Lopez shared during the B.League Hope Asia Hoop Festival 2025 at BGC on Saturday, November 22.
"I just ask him for advice on how to deal with this, how to deal with that, since he’s been in the league for around four or five years already,” he added.
Ramos, now in his fifth year in Japan and fourth with Levanga Hokkaido, is thriving, averaging career numbers of 13.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while helping his team start the season 14–4.
[ALSO READ: Dwight Ramos delivers game-winner as Hokkaido completes sweep of Sendai 89ers]
He’s also representing Gilas Pilipinas in the upcoming FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Guam on November 28 and December 1.
Lopez’s support network in Japan isn’t limited to Ramos as the foremr UAAP champions also turn to another league mainstay.
“There’s also Kiefer [Ravena] as well, because he’s been in the league for quite some time. I just ask him for advice on how to deal with some stuff, and that’s been helping me a lot,” Lopez added.
[ALSO READ: Back home, Kiefer Ravena pays it forward at the B.LEAGUE Hope Asia Hoop Festival]
The 32-year-old is in his second season with the Yokohama B-Corsairs after three years with the Shiga Lakes and is contributing 10.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 18 games.
Unlike Ramos’ Hokkaido, Ravena’s Yokohama is struggling to stay afloat early with just a 6-12 record.
“Onto-the-next” mentality
As a B.League rookie, Lopez is averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18 minutes per game for the 6–12 FE Nagoya.
Despite limited playing time off the bench, he has shown flashes of his potential after dropping a career-high 27-points in a 78–88 loss to defending champions Utsunomiya Brex last November 2.
And while still working to earn a regular starting role, Lopez says Ramos and Ravena have been instrumental in his adjustment to life and basketball in Japan.
“We have 60 games, so they just say that you have to move on and can’t dwell on the last game. Sometimes I have bad games and tend to feel down, but they just tell me I have to move on,” Lopez shared.
With the Japan B.League currently on break for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Lopez and FE Nagoya will return to action on Saturday, December 6, against the Sendai 89ers (8–10).
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.