Dwight Ramos locked in for Gilas in World Cup prep

Filipino-American Dwight Ramos is pumped up to play and represent the country when the Philippines serves as one of hosts in the 2023 FIBA World Cup scheduled this August.

Coming off an ankle injury that forced him to miss a lot of games in the recent Japan B.League season, Ramos made up for lost time by working feverishly during his stay in the United States.

“Honestly, the past year, I was struggling with just my confidence and my jump shot and being in shape. It really took the last months, (so I) just went straight home, and I had my training camp with my trainer there, locked in on the work really, built my confidence really high. I worked on getting in shape and focused on my diet,” Ramos said in his recent interview with Playitright TV, a Youtube Sports Channel of veteran sports analyst Quinito Henson.

Gilas Pilipinas’ Dwight Ramos FIBA PHOTO

The sweet-shooting Levanga Hokkaido guard/forward managed to join Gilas during its last two days of closed-door training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

He has since left with the rest of the Gilas pool on Thursday evening for Estonia, where the team will begin its Europe training camp and series of tuneup matches.

While he's excited to train with his Gilas teammates, the 6-foot-4 Ramos said what's important now is for everyone to learn how to play together as they prepare for the FIBA World Cup.

In fact, in facing the Dominican Republic in the team's opening game in the group stage on August 25, Ramos said they will need to play with “less mistakes.”

“I think any experience playing together, it honestly doesn't even matter who our opponent but it's about us and how we play together,” he stressed. “Making the things more fluid so it's not going to be a lot of mistakes in the World Cup.”

Ramos remembered how Gilas failed to sustain its fine first half play during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2021 that saw the Filipinos fall to the Dominican Republic, 94-67 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Gilas failed to advance in the next round during that Olympic Qualifying tournament.

The Fil-American wingman missed that game due to a groin injury he sustained from previous competition, leaving then Gilas coach Tab Baldwin with one less reliable gunner.

“They (Dominican Republic players) were fast, they're very athletic, they are passionate, they wanted to win,” he said. “I wish I could have played and get a feel for it.”

But with that done and over with, Ramos said their goal now heading to the 2023 FIBA World Cup is to be the highest finisher in Asia in order to secure a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.