Three days in, Juan Gomez De Liaño is impressed with how things are going with Gilas. PBA Images (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY—Nearly a week ago, Juan Gomez De Liaño put up a career game in front of coach Tim Cone.

However, the talk suddenly shifted to a heated clutch moment in which the Converge rookie guard scored on a layup with his team up 10 in hopes of getting the better of the quotient system.

Although RJ Abarrientos brought the lead back to 10 with a buzzer-beating layup, Cone still showed his disappointment by confronting coach Delta Pineda when both the FiberXers and Barangay Ginebra shook hands after the Converge win.

However, Gomez De Liaño said that he and Cone quickly patched things up when the former joined the first Gilas practice on Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

"We didn't talk about it too much," Gomez De Liaño told Dugout Philippines on Thursday night when he was a special guest in the finals of Toby's Sports Shootout King at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

"It's nothing. Maybe it's the media or the people hyping so much about it."

To further prove that they are OK now, Gomez De Liaño revealed that Cone himself called him while on a family vacation to tell him he had been called up to the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the first window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

"We had two days off. I went to the beach with my brothers, and I was kinda surprised that coach Tim just called me. He just wanted pretty much my commitment, and kinda like if I'll be down to join the Gilas pool. For me, when it comes to the national team, it's a no-brainer," Gomez De Liaño further said.

Now at the same bench this time, the six-foot-one explosive guard finally got to experience, at least in the national team training, what it is like to be coached by the one he calls the greatest of all time.

"I really like coach Tim so far, one of the greatest coaches in the Philippines, the GOAT. It's fun to be under him, and I've been learning from him. His terminology and way of coaching are different. That's what I like most about him," he further said.

Being under Cone means Gomez De Liaño has to learn the patented triangle offense, but despite being in Gilas practice for three days, the explosive guard thinks he has learned enough principles already.

"Honestly, I'm kinda used to it now. It's only been three days, but it's fun basketball. There are a lot of options and reads, and it's very interesting," Gomez De Liaño further said.

"It's a good offense to kinda put out in the game."

However, he will not be in Metro Manila for long, as he will spend the weekend in Calamba City, specifically the Inspire Sports Academy, for a much-needed training camp to speed up the Gilas preparations for a two-game series against Guam to begin their WCQ campaign.

"I will just come in and get more familiar with the system and with the guys," Gomez De Liaño further said.

Cone said earlier Thursday that, just like the previous "Calambubbles", Gilas will run twice-a-day practices while inside Inspire.