Dwight Ramos expects no less than a war when rivals Gilas Pilipinas and South Korea face off once more in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers’ third window on Sunday at the AUF Sports and Cultural Center in Angeles, Pampanga.
“That game will definitely be a battle,” he said moments after the home team’s 76-51 drubbing of Indonesia on Friday. The match also served as a prelude to the rematch.
The 6-foot-5 winger believes that the cagers from the Far East will come out swinging. SoKor will be raring to avenge the 78-81 defeat they suffered to the Filipino dribblers last Wednesday — their first-ever loss in the Qualifiers.
Ramos proved himself a thorn in the side of the Koreans with his 16 points. He also had five rebounds, two steals, and a block in 32 minutes and 14 seconds. He was also Gilas’ most efficient player with a plus-16 rating.
However, SJ Belangel who dealt the heartbreaker, banking in an off-balance trey all over the outstretched arms of Lee Seonghyun at the buzzer.
Korea lost to the Philippines for the first time in eight years.
South Korea head coach Cho Sanghyun, though, said through a translator that it was a ‘lucky shot.’ But Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin did not take it lightly, saying that he would use it to fire up his players for Round Two.
“We will make sure that that is highlighted, and I’m sure that that will give our players a little incentive. And I don’t expect that we will be going out there to make friends on Sunday,” the decorated mentor said.
So, there will be no shortage of motivation for Ramos and the rest of the youth-laden unit for Sunday’s 3 p.m. clash.
“I know they’re gonna come out strong, try and show that our win was just a fluke, you know.
“So we just have to prove to them, and come out strong, and prove to them that we’re not something to just be taken lightly. We’re young, but we got that heart, that puso. So I think that’s just what… We have to go out there and just play our hardest,” the 22-year-old closed.
