Newcomer Juan Gomez de Liaño and Quentin Millora-Brown will be among the players to watch later tonight as Gilas Pilipinas attempts to do something it has done just once in seven tries: beat the Tall Blacks.
Gomez de Liaño, who was added to the pool for the first window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, will now get the chance to play for the senior men’s team, and he should be a welcome addition. The 6-foot point guard brings elite playmaking to a Gilas squad that has so often relied on naturalized reinforcement Justin Brownlee. He also brings size and physicality at the one—two traits Gilas coach Tim Cone has traditionally looked for at the point of attack.
Millora-Brown, who made his men’s team debut in the first window after fighting for his local eligibility, brings much-needed size for this Gilas iteration orphaned by Kai Sotto’s absence. He also brings physicality, decent athleticism, and tenacious rebounding that figure to come in handy against the Tall Blacks, who are parading a tall frontcourt bannered by Tyrell Harrison and Sam Mennenga.
Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson Among Holdovers Joining Gomez de Liaño and QMB
Joining Gomez de Liaño and QMB in the final 12 for Gilas are Brownlee, Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, Cjay Perez, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu, and Dwight Ramos.
Incidentally, Brownlee, Thompson, and company were part of the team that delivered the country’s first-ever win over New Zealand when they beat the Tall Blacks in November 2024 in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, also held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Brownlee led the way, putting up 26 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in an all-around masterpiece. Thompson added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Chris Newsome tallied 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
However, the other key cog in that win—Kai Sotto—won’t be around this time. The 7-foot-3 center delivered 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field in that win, to go along with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.
So, with Sotto out and Newsome coming off a knee injury, Gomez de Liaño and Millora-Brown will likely need to step up big time if Gilas Pilipinas is to repeat over the Tall Blacks.
