Dwight Ramos finds shooting stroke, delivers first win for Toyama

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Dwight Ramos finally found his offensive rhythm and helped the Toyama Grouses clinch their first win of the season against Osaka Evessa, 82-67, in the Japan B. League.

Ramos picked his spots efficiently and ended up with a team-high 20 points off 8/14 shooting from the field, to go along with his six rebounds and three assists.

The Gilas Pilipinas product struggled in his first games in Japan and failed to reach the 20-point mark until they faced Osaka.

Using his size and court awareness, Ramos was able to draw mismatches against Osaka’s guards which he took advantage of in the high post.

However, the win didn’t come easy as the game was tied at 65 with 6:52 remaining in the fourth.

That’s when import Julian Mavunga and Ramos went to work and spearheaded a massive 17-2 run to pull away with the much-needed victory.

Mavunga finished the ball game with an all-around effort of 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while former PBA import Joshua Smith tallied 15 points.

Meanwhile, in another edition of an all-Filipino Asian import clash, Bobby Ray Parks Jr.’s Nagoya Diamond Dolphins steam-rolled Thirdy Ravena’s San-En NeoPhoenix, 98-70.