MANILA – Some Gilas Pilipinas players might play through pain in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Belgrade.
Coach Tab Baldwin said Monday that one of them, swingman Dwight Ramos, is doubtful for Gilas' preliminary games against host country Serbia and the Dominican Republic.
"Dwight is not likely for either game," Baldwin said.
Ramos suffered a groin injury during the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) in Angeles from June 16-20.
Despite the injury, Ramos played superbly for Gilas during the third window, ending up as the team's best player all throughout the mini-tournament.
But do not be surprised if Ramos gets to play after all.
"Things can change overnight," Baldwin quipped.
The problem, according to Baldwin: "With a groin injury, it's not common. Usually, these things drag on, and that's what we seem he is experiencing. Dwight has already said to me that he wants to try, but he's just in no shape to try," he added.
Baldwin also bared that Carl Tamayo, one of the revelations during the ACQ third window, is still suffering from a lingering ankle pain after he hurt it during Gilas' blowout win against Indonesia.
"Now that he's trying to go full speed, he's experiencing quite a bit of discomfort in the ankle," Baldwin said.
"I think that he'll push through."
Ramos and Tamayo both sat out Gilas' tune-up game against China on Wednesday night which ended in a 79-all draw.
Baldwin said naturalized center Ange Kouame is also not in full health with a knee injury.
"Ange Kouame is nursing his deep knee contusion that he got in the third window, and he's not at full speed," Baldwin said.
Despite these, Baldwin said Gilas will still give its best as it looks to join 15 other Filipinos to the Tokyo Olympics from July 21-Aug. 2.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I know that they're gonna go out there and if they can give their best, that's what they're gonna give," he said. (PNA)
