(PBA image)
Juan Gomez De Liano’s return to Gilas Pilipinas was years in the making — and if national coach Tim Cone is to be believed, it is only the beginning of something bigger.
Back in a Gilas uniform for the first time in nearly four years, the 26-year-old guard delivered a composed and confident performance in the Philippines’ 69-66 heartbreaker to New Zealand in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers at a packed Mall of Asia Arena.
Gomez De Liano tallied 10 points and two assists, but beyond the numbers, it was his poise under pressure that caught Cone’s attention.
“He’s a special talent,” Cone said, offering more than just routine praise for the Converge rookie who previously suited up for Gilas under Chot Reyes and Tab Baldwin.
For Cone, Gomez De Liano’s steady showing came as no surprise. The former University of the Philippines standout had already made a strong impression during training camp.
“He was one of the best players during our practice camp, so we’re not surprised with what he came up and did,” the Barangay Ginebra mentor said.
In a game played before a roaring home crowd and against a disciplined New Zealand side, Gomez De Liano looked comfortable navigating Cone’s system — attacking gaps, making smart reads, and providing much-needed offensive spark.
And Cone believes the best is yet to come.
“He’s going to be a mainstay on this team,” the veteran coach stressed. “Remember this is his first game in front of a big crowd, a lot of pressure. He’s going to get comfortable and he’s going to do a lot more than what he did. He did a lot, but he’s going to do a lot more going forward.”
Despite slipping to 2-1 in Group A, Gilas found a silver lining in Gomez De Liano’s resurgence as the team gears up for another stern test.
The Philippines returns to action Sunday against undefeated Australia at the same venue. The Boomers sit atop the group with a 3-0 record, followed by Gilas at 2-1, New Zealand at 1-2, and Guam still searching for its first win at 0-3.
For Gilas, the loss stung. But in Juan Gomez De Liano’s reemergence, Cone may have found a long-term piece — one capable of anchoring the national team’s backcourt for years to come.
