DWIGHT Ramos believes the key to success for Gilas Pilipinas is to find a way to defend their opponent’s three-point shooters better.
Other than that, Ramos thinks that Gilas is on track, and, with more preparation time, can reach its full potential sooner rather than later.
Gilas' campaign in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 ended on Wednesday when it was routed by Australia, 84-60, in the quarterfinals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, leaving Ramos to ponder on areas for improvement moving forward.
READ See what's next for Gilas Pilipinas after FIBA Asia Cup 2025 exit
“Certainly, it is one of the top teams in the world,” said Ramos of Australia, in an interview by Cignal TV after the game. “If we are going to be in the game, have a chance to win, we are going to have to prepare more, we have to be sharper, more execution, we can’t be making so many mistakes.”
Ramos, the second-leading scorer of Gilas Pilipinas behind Justin Brownlee with a 16.8-point average per outing, said defending the three should e a primary focus the next time the Nationals compete in FIBA competitions.
The Philippines’ opponents made an average of 11.6 threes per game - the third-most after Wednesday’s games.
“I think the whole tournament, we struggled with the team’s three-point shooting. I guess when we get back together again in November, we are going to fix things up, maybe change up some defenses. We’ve got to address that because every international team is looking for threes,” said Ramos.
That November will be the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers where Gilas is in Group A where it will face Australia again during the first round of play.
Aside from Australia, also in Group A are Guam and New Zealand, a team that also beat Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup. Gilas will be facing Guam on November 28 and December 1, and New Zealand and Australia on February 26 and March 1, respectively.
Ramos believes Gilas will be better the next time it faces the Boomers next year.
“I think it will come in time. We are just trying to get more comfortable with each other, comfortable with the system. And we will see them again in February (window),” said the Japan B.League import.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
