Tag: Mustangs

Home crowd powers Dwight Ramos in Gilas’ trouncing of Mustangs

On: By: admin


Dwight Ramos leads Gilas Pilipinas past Taiwan Mustangs in a tune-up game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The home crowd inside the Philsports Arena fueled Dwight Ramos to help Gilas Pilipinas fend off a pesky Taiwan Mustangs in their tune-up game en route to the Fiba 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

With a capacity crowd cheering the Nationals in Pasig on Monday, Ramos showcased his talents for Gilas and powered the Philippines to a  74-64 win over the Mustangs.

“It’s always been great every time the game is in the Philippines,” said the Japan B.League Filipino import. “It always gets packed out and it’s always so fun to play here.”

READ: Gilas Pilipinas beats Taiwan Mustangs in tune-up before OQT

With the crowd solely behind Ramos and Gilas, the Ateneo product led the game in scoring with 19 points plus four steals and three rebounds to match in 26 minutes of action.

Ramos also flaunted his offensive prowess, sinking seven of his 11 tries from the field for a blistering 63 percent shooting clip.

The latest win is only just the beginning for Gilas Pilipinas and Ramos, who are looking to make a good account of themselves in the OQT.

READ: Dwight Ramos likes current ‘bigger’ Gilas team

“I think the next two tune-up games will be a bigger test for us. This was still a good test for us, especially having a big dude and a lot of good imports.”

“Every game is good practice for us.”



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Before Gilas’ quest in Latvia syart July 3, it is set set for two more tune-up games as preparation.

Coach Tim Cone and company fly to Europe on Tuesday for a two-game stretch against Turkey and Poland, respectively.

Gilas Pilipinas beats Taiwan Mustangs in tune-up before OQT

On: By: admin


Dwight Ramos leads Gilas Pilipinas past Taiwan Mustangs in a tune-up game ahead of the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the Paris Games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas rolled past Taiwan Mustangs on Monday night, 74-64, kicking off its build-up for the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament on a positive note.

Dwight Ramos had 19 points to lead the Nationals who are priming for the short meet that will complete the field in the Summer Olympic Games that will be held in Paris, France.

Justin Brownlee, fresh from plying his trade in Indonesia, delivered 12 points and 15 rebounds in a wire-to-wire victory fashioned before over 5,000 spectators at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

READ: Gilas loses Scottie to old injury, will fly with only 11 men to Latvia

“Well you know, we weren’t concerned about winning a basketball game, we wanted to play a certain style. And I think we did a really good job,” Gilas coach Tim Cone said shortly after the triumph over a visiting crew led by former PBA players Alex Cabagnot and Rashawn McCarthy.

“We got a lot of work to do but we have time. We got a lot of work to do ahead of us … We’ll just continue to get better and better as we move forward,” he went on.

Gilas will now set its sights on a pair of friendlies in Europe. The Filipinos fly to Turkey on Tuesday night where they will take on the host national team then move to Poland before plunging into action in the OQT in Riga where World No. 6 and host Latvia and No. 23 Georgia await.

Kai Sotto had nine points and nine rebounds, June Mar Fajardo chipped in eight points, while Carl Tamayo and skipper Japeth Aguilar combined for 13 in the scoring effort.

READ: Gilas plays tuneup matches before OQT

Gilas stuck with just 11 players as Roger Pogoy, a former national team gunner, joined the crowd as a spectator. He was with the team in its short closed-door camp at Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna a few days ago.

Cone said he will be sticking with that roster number with Fajardo finally activated and Amos completing the cast as a replacement.

Jamie Malonzo, AJ Edu and Scottie Thompson are all sidelined by injury.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

Oscar Lopez, who served the Cambodian national team during the Southeast Asian Games in the past, had 15 points, Cabagnot tossed in 13, while McCarthy 12 for the Mustangs who were coached by former Rain or Shine coach Chris Gavina.