Injured Dwight Ramos could have given Gilas more weapons vs Serbia, says Baldwin

The young Gilas Pilipinas squad pushed powerhouse Serbia in an 83-76 contest in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament early Thursday morning — and they were able to do it without one of their best players in Dwight Ramos.

The 22-year-old guard missed the game due to a groin injury he sustained in the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and was listed as day-to-day for this tournament.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin believes Ramos could have been a difference-maker in the game.

"Certainly to have his athleticism and strength defensively and his composure and skills offensively would have given us more weapons," Baldwin said of the injured Ramos.

Ramos averaged an impressive 13.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the Clark qualifiers.

Baldwin believes he would have positively impacted Gilas' play in the game.

"It’d be a different game but it doesn’t guarantee a different outcome," he said.

"But I think the way the game would have been played from our end of the floor might have been different. Dwight has that calming influence on his teammates and he can impose himself a little bit more easily because of his physicality."

Gilas will next face the Dominican Republic early Friday with hopes to advance into the knockout rounds of the tournament, where a spot in the Tokyo Olympics will be at stake.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News