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Juan Gomez de Liaño’s versatility seen to boost Gilas in FIBA qualifiers

Juan Gomez de Liaño’s long-awaited opportunity with Gilas Pilipinas could provide a significant boost to the national men’s basketball team due to his versatility and maturity.

Speaking on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s The Scorecard, basketball analyst Atty. Charlie Cuna said Gomez de Liaño’s all-around skill set makes him a valuable addition to coach Tim Cone’s system.

“He brings a lot of versatility in that backcourt. He’s a big guard with lots of talent. He can shoot from way outside, as we saw him. He was shooting fours with regularity in his conference in the PBA,” Cuna said.

Beyond his outside shooting, Gomez de Liaño’s ability to attack the basket and create opportunities for teammates could help unlock Gilas’ offensive potential.

“So he’s got some athleticism. He can drive to the basket as well. Plus, he can dish that rock, and I think that’s very important because there’s a lot of targets on this team. If you hit them in the right spot, hopefully they can knock down those shots,” he added.

Cuna also noted that Gomez de Liaño’s presence would allow other key players, including veteran guard Earl Scottie Thompson, to focus on their strengths without carrying the full burden of ballhandling duties.

“His addition actually frees up Scottie Thompson a little bit to roam around and do what he does, which is be energetic, go for loose balls, go for those offensive rebounds, not necessarily to bring the ball up as he has been doing in the past few tournaments,” Cuna explained.

Gomez de Liaño had been on the radar of the national team staff even before making the Final 12, with Cuna saying the guard’s strong performances for the Converge FiberXers in the PBA served as an audition for his inclusion.

“I think the entire conference he played in the PBA, this last conference, was his showcase, his audition for that,” Cuna said. “He was included in the pool in the last window already. He just was not included in the final lineup, but could have easily been selected for that.”

Now more familiar with Cone’s system, Gomez de Liaño is expected to step into his role with confidence, bringing both experience and composure to the national squad.

“I’m pretty sure he’s up to the task. He’s got a lot of talent, a lot of confidence, as we very much know, and he doesn’t let the crowd or the opponents faze him. He’s just going to do his thing,” Cuna said.

Gomez de Liaño’s debut comes at a crucial time as Gilas Pilipinas prepares to face tough regional opponents, with his performance potentially playing a key role in the team’s campaign to secure a spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup. (AC)

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