Ramos reunites with Gilas
Dwight is already in the country, he should be joining the team right now.
Dwight Ramos finally joins Gilas Pilipinas in its preparation for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers next month.
Gilas team manager Butch Antonio yesterday confirmed that the 23-year-old combo guard has already arrived in the country and will be joining the youth-laden pool led by Serbian coach Nenad Vucinic.
Aside from Ramos, the national team also modified its pool by including fellow Japanese B.League cager Kenmark Cariño in the roster.
Gilas return to international action when they battle India on 1 July, followed by another match with New Zealand in Auckland on 3 July. “Dwight is already in the country, he should be joining the team right now,” Antonio told Daily Tribune in a brief conversation.
“We also added Kenmark to the pool.”
The 6-foot-4 playmaker is tipped to be the team’s backcourt star alongside Japan-based Thirdy Ravena and collegiate standouts RJ Abarrientos and SJ Belangel.
Ramos recently struck a new deal with the Levanga Hokkaido after spending one season with the Toyama Grouses.
More importantly, Ramos and Cariño’s participation in the pool will provide stability after several players were cut from the lineup.
In a previous interview, program director Chot Reyes confirmed that University of the Philippines sniper James Spencer will not be joining due to an injury.
Versatile big man Justin Baltazar also begged off while assistant coach Jong Uichico said newcomer Allen Liwag has been cut from the pool.
University of Santo Tomas gunner Sherwin Concepcion was reportedly dropped as well.
Youngster Caelum Harris already left the country as he joined the U16 team in the FIBA Asian Championship in Doha, Qatar.
Still, Gilas still have a stacked lineup with holdovers Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Carl Tamayo, Geo Chiu, Lebron Lopez, Will Navarro and new faces in Rhenz Abando, Kevin Quiambao and
Ricci Rivero.