Long before the three point shot was born, many Visayan snipers made their living from long range and one of them was Salvador “Dodie” Ramas. He was an integral part of the then Cebu Central Colleges Executives (now University of Cebu Webmasters) who won the then Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA) title and was a member of the powerhouse Mama’s Love team of the Cebu commercial basketball circuit in the mid-70s.
His shooting touch had him selected to the gold-medal winning 1978 Philippine National Youth Team to the ABC Youth Championships and was a member of the 1979 PBA Open Champion Royal Tru-Orange. Led by PBA pioneers Mon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Yoyong Martirez, Jessie Sullano, Estoy Estrada and Francis Arnaiz, Ramas was among the 1970s Visayan invasion in Manila and among his peers were CCC teammate Biboy Ravanes, UV’s Marlowe Jacutin, Willy Generalao and 1979 PBA ROY, the late Arnie Tuadles. The batch of Al Solis, Elmer Cabahug, Dondon Ampalayo, Jojo lastimosa and Apet Jao came a bit later.
Married to statuesque mestiza beauty Mikaela Maramara, the Cebuano couple now permanently reside Down Under and have two grown sons, Dave and Mitch who are both married and like their dad also play ball. But we’re not talking about Dodie Ramas here but of his soon-to-be 4-year old wunderkind grandson, Mitch’s eldest.
Because Mitch was a Miami Heat fan, he named his son Alonzo Wade and like a true hoops fanatic, began training Alonzo at 10 months old. I saw the kid two years ago when we visited our son Emil in Australia and the interest in the game is really there. The Ramas family is amazed with the kid’s talent and interest and according to Mitch, has developed a love and passion for the game.
Alonzo is currently training at Mt. Annan Leisure Centre and is dominating the under-5 program run by Coach Daniel McLellan. With Stephen Curry as his favorite player, he’s the only one in his class that can dribble, shoot and defend. Dad says Alonzo loves the way Steph shoots and is starting to pattern his shots after his idol. Because he can dribble and attack the basket than anyone else, he got the nick name Zoflash. Check his Instagram @zowade17 because it’s fun watching the kid dribble and shoot and do some floaters during his U-5 program and at home with his dad and lolo.
A sporting goods store, Stateside Sports Australia, provide Alonzo with his favorite Golden State gear which he proudly wears to his weekly training. He said he likes to represent the Philippines in future international competitions and Lolo Dodie says that at his age, Alonzo has a lot of potential.
Pinoy blood is evident in Alonzo as he loves adobo but I still have to figure out what a banana spaghetti is as his dad said that he also like the dish. Chances are that Alonzo will grow tall as his mom Rebecca, who is of Chinese/Russian ancestry and stands no less than 5-7. Let’s follow Zoflash’s progress and with his parents’ and grandparents’ guidance, the kid could well become a top high school and college prospect.
An uncle was a high school and college star during his days in Cebu and is currently playing in the PBA. Yes, Paul Desiderio is a close relative and belongs to the Ramas clan of Liloan, Cebu./PN
