Juan Gomez de Liano will play for Platinum Karaoke Philippines in the ASEAN Basketball League International Champions Cup slated April 16 and 17 in Bali, Indonesia.
The former B.League cager and Gilas Pilipinas member will join Chris de Chavez and imports Marcus Hammonds and Carlos Martinez in the two-day event that will usher in the return of the regional league after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.
Platinum, which will be handed by coach Anton Altamirano, is one of two Philippine teams that will take part in the halfcourt tournament, joining the Zamboanga Valientes.
Other teams set to join are the national teams of Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, ABL sides Singapore Slingers and Saigon Heat, Lourve Surabaya and India’s YKBK.
“It's a great opportunity for Platinum to carry the Philippine flag in an international competition. It's a massive honor for us and we're hopeful to bring home the crown in this tournament,” said Platinum team manager Gerber Manahan.
Gomez de Liano is no stranger to the 3x3 scene, having played for the Philippine team that placed seventh in the 2017 FIBA 3x3 U-18 World Cup held in China.
De Chavez will hope to carry his impressive showing for Platinum in the PBA 3x3 while Hammons and Martinez, who is from Spain, are ranked outside of FIBA’s top 100 3x3 players.
“We're excited to see this team that we've built compete with some of the best in the region as we expect big things from Juan Gomez de Liano and Spaniard Carlos Martinez,” said Altamirano.
“We understand the pressure of representing the country and we welcome that challenge as we aspire for greatness,” he added.