Additional Firepower Coming: GDL Bros, Palma Tapped to Join Nueva Ecija for MPBL's Next Season

If you look at how the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards finished the recently-concluded regular season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), one could only feel bad. After all, they were just a few spots down for the eighth and final playoff berth in the heavily-stacked North Division. Unfortunately, they couldn't get things going on a more consistent basis and part of the reason for that was the lack of consistent firepower. That is despite Coach Charles Tiu having six former players in his line-up led by Nick Belasco.

Fortunately for the Rice Vanguards, they will be getting a pair of young but proven players. And more.

Coming off what seemed like a disappointing season in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) while playing for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, the Gomez de Liano brothers, Juan and Javi, will be added into the line-up of Nueva Ecija heading into the league's fourth season. Given how the Gomez de Liano brothers performed in their last two seasons in the UAAP, their addition to the line-up of Nueva Ecija will be a much-needed for a team that was led by JR Cawaling in scoring as he normed 14 points in the 10 games that he played for the Rice Vanguards. Initially, Cawaling started last season with Imus before getting released to free agency. 

Juan Gomez de Liano was one of UP's brightest stars in their playoff run last year while averaging eight points, five rebounds, and two assists in Season 82 of the UAAP but more than the numbers he has put up for State U, he already garnered vast experience playing in the international scene with the most recent one being a part of the Gilas Pilipinas side that whooped Indonesia in their game for the first window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers. In fact, Juan was one of the amateur players who got included in the final line-up and he didn't disappoint. He finished with 10 points, two assists, and a steal.  Incidentally, both Juan and Javi also suited up for Mighty Sports in the 2020 Dubai International Basketball Championship where Charles Tiu served as the head coach too. So Charles Tiu knew what he can expect from the duo. 

On the other hand, Javi Gomez de Liano was UP's poster boy for his efficiency as he normed 10 points on 47% field goal shooting including 35% from deep.

And not only that. 

Joining the Gomez de Liano brothers for next season is a former professional player Renz Palma- a homegrown player who had a very brief run in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Palma, a native of Nueva Ecija, is tipped as a solid two-way player by Charles Tiu. In addition to this, Tiu also noted that Palma's energy on the court will play a key role in Nueva Ecija's success next season and beyond.

While the talent of the Gomez de Liano brothers plus the energy that a Renz Palma will be bringing in next season will be a big boost to the campaign of the Vanguards, it's still the question of how they will fit into the system of Coach Charles Tiu. While Tiu has already handled both Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano during their stint in Dubai, this is the MPBL and that will be a different story. 

Sure, the Gomez de Liano brothers' familiarity with the coach will be their advantage but will that advantage lead to a better finish for Nueva Ecija? Perhaps better than an 11th-place finish in the North Division?

We'll just need to wait for next season to find out.  

Photo is from ESPN5