GDL Brothers Bring the "UP Fight" to Gilas Pilipinas

November's window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers concluded with Gilas Pilipinas winning both of their games against Thailand with an average winning margin of 28 points. 

Not only did both wins put Gilas Pilipinas on top of the Group A standings with an unblemished 3-0 slate. It also showed that having a young core that is infused with former collegiate stars will benefit the national team program in the years to come. While all of them have yet to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), these young guns have proven in the last three games of Gilas that they can carry the fight with two specific players showing the fighting spirit that has been associated with players from the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.

The Gomez de Liano brothers in Juan and Javi.

On Monday's 93-69 victory of the Filipinos, the brothers combined for 33 points, six rebounds, four assists, and eight for 10 shooting from the three-point line. Javi led the way for Gilas with 19 points while Juan added 14 points.  In last Friday's 93-61 win, Juan scored 12 points to back Dwight Ramos' 20-point outing while Javi added nine points. Juan also scored 10 points in Gilas' 100-70 win against Indonesia last February. 

While Juan and Javi aren't just the two players who brought the "UP fight" to the international stage as they were also joined by Kobe Paras and Jaydee Tungcab for the November window, their numbers have shown that they can carry the fight for Gilas Pilipinas in the same way they carried the fight for UP in the collegiate level. And beyond. While Paras' highlight dunk last Friday reached the top plays for that day, Juan Gomez de Liano also rose up for a dunk on Monday. Javi Gomez de Liano made it rain from deep with a four for four shooting from rainbow country. 

Both have been doing those things since their playing days in UP and they are looking to continue doing them for Gilas Pilipinas not just in the next window of the Asia Cup qualifiers but perhaps, during the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Photo is from FIBA