Dwight Ramos' Perfect Game Against Thailand: More to Come

Dwight Ramos only scored five points in his first game with Gilas Pilipinas against Indonesia. Against Thailand on Friday, Ramos increased his production to 20 points on seven for seven field goal shooting while leading the Philippines to a 93-61 victory over the veteran-loaded Thai squad in Bahrain.

Of course, that February team was led by Thirdy Ravena, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, and five other Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players. 

For the second window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers inside the bubble in Manama, Bahrain, Gilas Pilipinas decided to field a young but talented team led by Kobe Paras. And despite Thailand being infused by some of the best players from Thailand's basketball league, Gilas was able to dominate the Thais beginning in the second quarter where the Filipinos outscored their opponents, 32-10.

While many were expecting Kobe Paras to lead the way for the young core, it was Ramos' outstanding performance that shone the brightest on Friday. Aside from making all of his field goals including a pair of threes, he also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists, and also had three steals. All of that in just 19 minutes. 

What makes Dwight Ramos unique is the fact that he hasn't even played a single game in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with the Ateneo Blue Eagles and yet, at this point in his career, he has already gained experience in the international scene. And with Tab Baldwin being a member of the Gilas coaching staff for the Bahrain window, the better Dwight Ramos will become not just for Monday's next game against the Thais but beyond. 

Dwight Ramos' rise with Gilas Pilipinas will now serve as a warning not just for the UAAP but potentially, for the PBA. Many people are already claiming that Ramos is already ready to play in the professional ranks and that's a problem for collegiate players who are going to be assigned to defend him once the UAAP starts. Plus the fact that he already played in the United States prior to his arrival in Ateneo already takes his game to a higher gear. 

More importantly, we might need to get used to seeing Dwight Ramos wear national colors in international competitions as he also included in Chot Reyes' 23 for 23 list- the list of players that could play for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in which the Philippines will be one of the host countries. It means that Dwight Ramos will be a part of the national team program in the next few years. 

Photo is from FIBA