Dwight Ramos Ready to Take Off with Gilas and Ateneo

The original 24-man pool that SBP has put together for the first window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers this month was filled with surprising inclusions. For one, the said pool is loaded with collegiate stars, incoming PBA rookies, and yes, even a Marc Pingris. But perhaps, one inclusion which led to everyone scratching their heads and asking themselves: Who is Dwight Ramos and why was he included in the pool?

A transferee from Cal Poly Pamona in California, the 20-year old Dwight Ramos has been among the topics in the collegiate basketball dating to last year after it was reported that he would be serving residency before debuting n the upcoming Season 83 of the UAAP- of course for the Ateneo Blue Eagles along with his brother, Eli Ramos. And frankly, the name Dwight Ramos has been making noise in the Philippine basketball ever since he was still in high school as many proclaimed that he would become one of the next big stars in Philippine basketball. And since he and Eli Ramos are expected to make their UAAP debuts this year, the UAAP might be heading towards an extended Ateneo reign. 

And if you look back at Ateneo's first two games in the ongoing UAAP-NCAA Challenge in the PCCL, the hype surrounding Dwight Ramos and his brother is worth it as Dwight scored 12 points against the San Beda Red Lions and added 8 points against the UST Growling Tigers- both are wins. And all of his points came from high-percentage shots. If anything, this is a clear indication that Dwight Ramos is the real deal and that could be a problem for the UAAP.

And his inclusion in the national team?

For starters, it shouldn't come as a surprise. 

Forner Gilas Head Coach Chot Reyes put together a "23 for 23" list of players who would represent the country in the 2023 FIBA World Cup- an event that the country will be hosting. That list came out in 2018. Reyes knew back then that Dwight Ramos, along with the current youngsters who are included in the "23 for 23" list, would be ready to give the country a fighting chance to move on to the next stage of the World Cup and there is no better way to start preparing for it than to include Dwight Ramos in the training pool and hopefully, in the final 12 who will then play against Thailand on the 20th and Indonesia on the 23rd.

Photo is from ABS-CBN Sports