The Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team has a gem of a player on their hands in Dwight Ramos and head coach Tab Baldwin knows it.
The American-New Zealander coach has seen first hand how the Ateneo Blue Eagle guard has developed his game in his time with the men’s national team and he expects Ramos to continue to progress.
“If he can continue his progress really well as a point guard, I think he feels the game and sees the game really well,” said Baldwin after Ramos helped defeat Korea for the second time this week with a stat line of 19 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Showing that he has just as much substance to his game as style, Ramos averaged 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and Baldwin can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him.
“Certainly, we don’t know his future yet, but this is a young man that can play this game at a high level anywhere in this world,” said Baldwin.
Ramos’ efficiency is not lost on the coaches on the other side of the court. Former national team head coach Rajko Toroman singled out Ramos as the one player that impressed him the most, especially after the latter burned his current team, Indonesia, for a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.
“I think that the biggest surprise for me not only today but in the tournament in Bahrain and in the first game is Dwight Ramos. He is looking like a European player, very tough, athletic, who can shoot the ball.”
The 22-year old is expected to be one of the team’s pillars when the Gilas heads to Serbia to compete in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. (JNP)