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FIBA: Dwight Ramos among players to watch in Belgrade qualifiers

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/06/27/dwight-ramos.jpg"/><figcaption>Gilas Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos. <em>FIBA.basketball.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Gilas Pilipinas standout Dwight Ramos earned an honorable mention as one of the must-watch players in the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.</p><p>The honor comes after Ramos had a solid outing in the third and final window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga where he helped the Philippines complete a sweep of Group A.</p><p>In two games against South Korea and one against Indonesia, the 22-year-old Ramos averaged 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and two assists per contest.</p><p>On its <a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/oqt/serbia/2020/news/players-to-watch">website</a>, FIBA noted of Ramos: &quot;He is the go-to guy in the new Gilas generation, which is still on a mission to find a new leader after legendary Andray Blatche.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Dwight&#x27;s numbers and games in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers show that he is on a good way to follow the path blazed by his countrymate.&quot;</p><p>Ramos, who has yet to play UAAP basketball for Ateneo de Manila University, will look to lead a young Gilas team in the FIBA OQT where they will take on hosts Serbia and the Dominican Republic in the group stage.</p><p>But according to Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin, there is a &quot;major concern&quot; regarding Ramos as he sustained a groin strain during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. The injury kept him out of the team&#x27;s tune-up against China before they left for Belgrade.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re just not seeing any improvement in the groin muscle. It&#x27;s been four days now since he got the injury, and you know, the trip doesn&#x27;t help. The travel and the airplane, that doesn&#x27;t help the muscle problems,&quot; Baldwin said on &quot;The Chasedown,&quot; Saturday.</p><p>&quot;So we have to see if it will settle down in the next few days. I&#x27;m guardedly pessimistic, actually, not optimistic. But there&#x27;s really no point in trying to make an assessment in something that could change overnight,&quot; he added.</p><p>Aside from Ramos, also earning the FIBA spotlight is Vasilije Micic of Serbia, the Most Valuable Player of the Euroleague. </p><p>Serbia is widely considered to be the favorite to qualify for the Tokyo Games, even with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic opting not to play. Micic will have a big role for the team in the qualifiers after averaging 15.6 points and 4.6 assists per game in the Euroleague.</p><p>Italy&#x27;s Nicolo Melli was also tabbed as a must-watch player, especially for an Azzuri squad that is missing some of its usual standouts including Danilo Gallinari and Marco Bellineli.</p><p>Senegal&#x27;s Pierria Henry also made the list, while Michael Torres Cuevas of the Dominican Republic and Gian Clavell of Puerto Rico got an honorable mention as well.</p><p>Another Serbian player, Ognjen Dobric, was also highlighted as he is expected to step up for the home team that is missing its usual core of players. </p><p>The Philippines plays Serbia early on July 1, with the game set to tip-off at 2:15 a.m. They take on the Dominican Republic the next day at 2:30 a.m.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1711656" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Gilas Pilipinas standout Dwight Ramos earned an honorable mention as one of the must-watch players in the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.</p>

Gilas Pilipinas standout Dwight Ramos earned an honorable mention as one of the must-watch players in the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.