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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Despite twin losses, Juan Gomez de Liano determined to make steady progress in Japan

Despite twin losses, Juan Gomez de Liano determined to make steady progress in Japan

Published Oct 7, 2021 03:24 pm

Photo from Japan B.League

Juan Gomez de Liano said he has more work to cut out after seeing limited action in his B.League second division debut with Earthfriends Tokyo Z over the weekend.

The former University of the Philippines played a total of 19 minutes and averaged 6.0 points in Tokyo Z’s twin defeats to the Kagawa Five Arrows on the road to open his maiden campaign in the Japanese league.

But Gomez de Liano is hoping to make steady progress moving forward and help Tokyo Z improve on its 13-46 record the previous year.

“We just had a bad start,” Gomez de Liano said in a video posted by Tokyo Z on its YouTube channel. “But we need to have that right mindset, have positive vibes, positive energy and good environment going to practice and win as much games as we can.”

Gomez de Liano played just 3 1/2 minutes in his first game last Oct. 2, scoring a scoop layup in Tokyo Z’s 89-82 loss in the first game against Kagawa.

Tokyo Z gave Gomez de Liano more playing time the following day and dropped 10 points in 16 minutes. But the visitors fell to 0-2 on the season after a 100-85 loss to the same club.

Gomez de Liano also bared that he played with a heavy heart following the passing of his grandfather on the eve of his Tokyo Z debut.

“It was a tough situation for me, especially like I really wanted to play (longer) but I wasn’t able to play (too much),” he said. “But it’s a cycle of life. It’s part of life and I have to move on from it and continue to pray about everything.”

Meanwhile, his older brother Javi left Manila Wednesday, Oct. 6 to begin his stint with the B.League’s top division side Ibaraki Robots.

But Javi won’t be able to suit up for this weekend’s two-game set with Kiefer Ravena and the Shiga Lakestars due to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for those arriving in Japan.

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