By Ivan Saldajeno
QUEZON CITY--Javi Gomez De Liaño blossomed to a reliable tall gunner in his high school career with UPIS.
With the 6-5 stretch-four heading for college after completing his juniors days, the one-fourth of the renowned siblings at the Junior Maroons camp had to choose between staying in Commonwealth and going to the other side of the R7 Road network in España and enroll at UST to join his older brother.
He eventually decided to still call Diliman his "home" for his tertiary education.
"I came from a school na hindi masyadong basketball-inclined. Nag-tryout ako sa UPIS. They gave me a chance. Doon na ako gumaling sa basketball, so I just decided to stick with UP for college," the oldest of the brothers which include fellow Junior Maroon Juan, who would become part of the Batang Gilas squad, and incoming Junior Maroon Jordi explained to Dugout Philippines on Sunday his decision to stay with the Maroons for the UAAP seniors wars.
With recent reports pointing towards UP taking alumnus Bo Perasol as their new head coach, Javi also told Dugout Philippines his expectations on potentially being under the tutelage of the former Ateneo gaffer.
"I heard magaling siya, so excited ako [na maglaro under him]," the older Gomez De Liaño said in particular.
But with Perasol known for a coaching style that gives premium to guards, unleashing the beast out of the likes of Gary David, Marcio Lassiter, Jvee Casio, Kiefer Ravena, and Von Pessumal, the stretch-four said that he is willing to give way to the Fighting Maroons' talented backcourt consisting of Diego Dario, Paul Desiderio, and the returning Kyles Lao.
"Big man naman ako. I can pass. OK lang kung hindi ako maging scorer muna. Kung ano yung gusto niyang role for me, gagawin ko na lang," he uttered specifically.
On the other hand, Javi also said that Jordi was surprised that he is slowly getting some media attention as well.
"He told me na nagulat daw siya. He did not expect that someone will interview him," Javi recalled a conversation with his younger brother when the latter was interviewed following his preseason debut for the Junior Maroons. They are currently playing in City Hoops and PCABL as part of their UAAP buildup.
In fact, Javi and Juan actually showed up to give Jordi moral support in UPIS' City Hoops clash with Sacred Heart-Novaliches at the AFP Wellness Center won by the latter. The youngest of the brood finished with five points in the game.
"He has to improve in a lot of things, but he's getting there. He's aware naman that he has to work on what he has to improve," Javi evaluated Jordi's preseason performance so far.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
"I came from a school na hindi masyadong basketball-inclined. Nag-tryout ako sa UPIS. They gave me a chance. Doon na ako gumaling sa basketball, so I just decided to stick with UP for college," the oldest of the brothers which include fellow Junior Maroon Juan, who would become part of the Batang Gilas squad, and incoming Junior Maroon Jordi explained to Dugout Philippines on Sunday his decision to stay with the Maroons for the UAAP seniors wars.
With recent reports pointing towards UP taking alumnus Bo Perasol as their new head coach, Javi also told Dugout Philippines his expectations on potentially being under the tutelage of the former Ateneo gaffer.
"I heard magaling siya, so excited ako [na maglaro under him]," the older Gomez De Liaño said in particular.
But with Perasol known for a coaching style that gives premium to guards, unleashing the beast out of the likes of Gary David, Marcio Lassiter, Jvee Casio, Kiefer Ravena, and Von Pessumal, the stretch-four said that he is willing to give way to the Fighting Maroons' talented backcourt consisting of Diego Dario, Paul Desiderio, and the returning Kyles Lao.
"Big man naman ako. I can pass. OK lang kung hindi ako maging scorer muna. Kung ano yung gusto niyang role for me, gagawin ko na lang," he uttered specifically.
On the other hand, Javi also said that Jordi was surprised that he is slowly getting some media attention as well.
"He told me na nagulat daw siya. He did not expect that someone will interview him," Javi recalled a conversation with his younger brother when the latter was interviewed following his preseason debut for the Junior Maroons. They are currently playing in City Hoops and PCABL as part of their UAAP buildup.
In fact, Javi and Juan actually showed up to give Jordi moral support in UPIS' City Hoops clash with Sacred Heart-Novaliches at the AFP Wellness Center won by the latter. The youngest of the brood finished with five points in the game.
"He has to improve in a lot of things, but he's getting there. He's aware naman that he has to work on what he has to improve," Javi evaluated Jordi's preseason performance so far.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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