ATENEO guard Dwight Ramos made a huge impact for Gilas Pilipinas the last time out. He admitted, however, that there is one aspect of his game he still has to learn: be a vocal leader.
“Coach Tab (Baldwin) has been challenging (me) to become more vocal to be a better leader. That’s something I’m trying to work on. You can tell, I’m not the loudest person but I’m trying,” Ramos said last Tuesday in an episode of Hoops Life powered by SMART.
“I’m hoping that when I arrive there, I can be more of a vocal guy to the younger players,” he added.
The 6-foot-5 Ramos has arrived in the country and will join the all-amateur Philippine five in training camp after he completes his mandatory quarantine.
“I’m just getting this quarantine. Just got back from the States,” Ramos said.
“Just wait for a week, get my swab, and hopefully get to Inspire.”
Set to do battle in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in a bubble from June 16 to 20 in Clark and in the Olympic qualifying tourney from June 29 to July 4 in Belgrade, Serbia, the nationals are toughening up at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
Leading the 20-man pool are Ateneo center Ange Kouame, a naturalized player candidate, 2019 Gilas special draftees Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, and Jordan Heading, William Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel, and Jaydee Tungcab, who were also tabbed in the Gilas draft last March.
Completing the pool are Justine Baltazar of La Salle, University of the Philippines’ Javi Gomez de Liaño and Carl Tamayo, Kemark Cariño of San Beda University, Far Eastern University’s RJ Abarrientos, and the Blue Eagles’ Dave Ildefonso, Lebron Lopez, SJ Belangel, Jason Credo, and Geo Chiu.
Ramos, 22, proved his worth in the second window in Manama last November after he led the squad with 20 points on 7-for-7 shooting, to go with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in Gilas’ 93-61 ripping of Thailand and then followed it up with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists in their 93-69 demolition job on the Thais to complete an emphatic two-game sweep.
The best is yet to come, according to Ramos.
“I’m hoping it’s just scratching the surface,” he said. “I’m hoping to continue playing well and that this is just the beginning.”
