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| Juan Gomez De Liano gets a Gilas call-up two nights after dropping 32 on coach Tim Cone's Ginebra squad. PBA Images (file photo) |
MANILA—Juan Gomez De Liaño could find himself back with Gilas Pilipinas as national team head coach Tim Cone said the Converge rookie guard is now part of the Gilas pool ahead of a two-game set against Guam in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Cone, though, clarified that nothing is definite if the six-foot-one point guard would eventually make the cut in either of the two showdowns against Guam, one on Nov. 28 and another at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City on Dec. 1.
"We've invited Juan Gomez De Liaño to the practice. That's not necessarily meaning he's going to be in the Final 12, but he's going to come join us," Cone said on Sunday night after his pro club, Ginebra, prevailed over Phoenix in their PBA Philippine Cup duel at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
However, he too said "Juan GDL" has a good chance at cracking an active Gilas roster, although he and fellow University of the Philippines alumnus Quentin Millora-Brown will be "starting from ground zero" in terms of learning the ropes of the triangle offense.
"He could very well go... He could be part of the 12," Cone further said.
He also clarified that Gomez De Liaño's inclusion had nothing to do with his 32-point explosion on Friday night against Cone and the Gin Kings and that Gomez De Liaño has long been on the Gilas radar even before the career game happened.
"We've had him in mind for a while. It was a consensus on the coaching staff. Just feeling like that was a position that we felt we could use a little bit more of a scorer, ball controller, and a pick-and-roll guy," Cone further said.
He also said RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario will join the Gilas pool again, but mainly as added warm bodies in practices, with Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, and AJ Edu still having some commitments to be in the KBL and Japan B.League this week.
However, Cone thinks Abarrientos, who exploded for 25 points against the Fuel Masters on Sunday night, could be in consideration too, like Gomez De Liaño, for the Final 12, considering Scottie Thompson and Chris Newsome's actual roles.
"Neither of them is a pure point guard. They're more combo guards, so he and also RJ are two guys that can come out and run the pick-and-roll, spread the floor for us," Cone further said, adding that he is also impressed by Gomez De Liano's defense.
With his call-up announced, Gomez De Liaño will get a chance to talk to Cone regarding his chances of donning Gilas blue again after three years.
"I want to talk to him honestly to try out for a Gilas spot," Gomez De Liaño said right after his career game against Cone and the Gin Kings on Friday night.
Gomez De Liaño also said that time that it is a "no-brainer" that he will accept the Gilas call-up if Cone summons him.
"If I got a call from the national team, it's a no-brainer. It's a green light for me automatically," Gomez De Liaño further said.
Two nights after expressing his desire for a Gilas return, he might have gotten his wish granted.
