DWIGHT Ramos is getting an early start in his preparation for Gilas Pilipinas' campaign in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament this July.
While still far from game shape just three weeks after undergoing surgery for an orbital fracture in his eye, the Japan B.League import is back in Manila to begin preparing himself for the OQT to be held in Riga, Latvia from July 2-7, 2024.
READ Cone keeps fingers crossed on Dwight Ramos' eye damage
"I'm still going to make it, I think. I'm just trying to get back in shape. It's really hard actually, I thought it's gonna be easier," the Levanga Hokkaido import told SPIN.ph on Friday.
The 6-foot-4 Gilas mainstay underwent surgery in Japan due to an orbital fracture he suffered in a B.League game earlier that month.
Ramos had to take a few weeks off any activity for it to heal properly.
"For almost a month, I was basically just trying to get better on the couch, no activity at all. Now, my vision is all good but my eye's still swollen and it feels a bit different, it should go away with time, but my face is still numb," he continued.
Ramos also shared that a talk with coach Tim Cone a few weeks ago became his biggest motivation to recover and be available for Gilas in the OQT.
"Coach Tim called me and he asked about it, told him about the operation, and basically, he just said he needs me to be with the team," Ramos said. "And that gave me more motivation to get back."
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