Ulaanbaatar Xac guard Ian Miller will play for Strong Group-Pilipinas in the 44th edition of the William Jones Cup scheduled from July 12 to 20, 2025 in Taiwan. He was named MVP award for leading the Broncos to the Basketball Champions League Asia-East (BCL Asia-East) to victory last May. (FIBA photo)
Strong Group-Pilipinas is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to defend the crown at the 44th William Jones Cup, bolstering its roster with two of Asia’s most explosive basketball talents.
Filipino-Spanish swingman Javi Gomez de Liano and American scoring machine Ian Miller are the newest reinforcements for the powerhouse squad set to compete from July 12 to 20 at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
“These are excellent additions to our team,” said head coach Charles Tiu in a press release on Monday. “Javi and Ian bring high-level experience and versatility. They’ll really complement the core group we already have.”
No stranger to the international stage, Gomez de Liano is currently on his second season with the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters in the Korean Basketball League. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-5 sharpshooter delivered solid numbers last season, averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 41.7% from beyond the arc—a stat line that reflects his steady evolution as a reliable two-way threat.
“Javi and I go way back,” Tiu added. “He played for me in the 2019 Dubai tournament with Mighty Sports. It’s great to reunite with him. He brings toughness, elite shooting, and professionalism every time he steps on the court.”
Meanwhile, Miller arrives fresh off an MVP-worthy run in the Basketball Champions League Asia-East, where he led Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos to the championship just last May. The 6-foot-3 guard torched defenses with 17.9 points per game on 44.1% shooting, while also chipping in 2.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists.
“He’s coming off an impressive run in BCL Asia,” Tiu noted. “We’re excited to bring that firepower into our backcourt.”
Gomez de Liano and Miller join a stacked Strong Group roster that already features big names like Andre Roberson, Kiefer Ravena, Jason Brickman, Dave Ildefonso, Rhenz Abando, Angelo Kouame, Geo Chiu, DJ Fenner, Tajuan Agee, and Allen Liwag.
The title defense begins on July 13 against Chinese-Taipei A, followed by showdowns with Japan U-25, Qatar, Australia, Chinese-Taipei B, Malaysia, Bahrain, and the UAE.
With a deep bench and battle-tested veterans, Strong Group is not just showing up to play — they’re heading to New Taipei to dominate.