MANILA, Philippines — Strong Group Athletics boosted its solid core with the addition of former Terrafirma guard forward Javi Gomez de Liano and American guard Ian Miller in its quest to defend its title in the coming 44th William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
The SGA club team made the official announcement on its social media page.
Gomez De Liano, the 6-foot-5 Filipino wingman, is fresh off a stint with the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Boosters in the Korean Basketball League this past season where he averaged 8.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 53 games.
On other hand, the 6-foot-3 Miller is fresh off a stint with the Ulaanbaatar Xac, helping the Broncos to a third place finish in the recent Basketball Champions League Asia 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The 33-year-old former Florida State standout averaged 17.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Broncos in the continental tournament.
Miller was a familiar face, as he knocked down 32 points in knocking off the Meralco Bolts in the quarterfinal round in the Dubai cage joust.
Gomez De Liano and Miller could easily provide the scoring punch for an SGA side that is welcoming back the 2024 champion core led by Kiefer Ravena, high-flying guard Rhenz Abando, Filipino-American guard Jason Brickman, Geo Chiu, reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Allen Liwag, Dave Ildefonso, Philippine naturalized big man Ange Kouame and American guard DJ Fenner, whose mother is a Filipina but born in Canada.
Miller joins former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Andre Roberson and big man Tajuan Agee as foreign reinforcements for Strong Group.
Strong Group, which started its practice on Monday, June 30, captured the Jones Cup crown in 2024 after disposing of Chinese Taipei-A in overtime, 83-79 en route to a tournament sweep.
This year’s Jones Cup will run from July 12 to 20 at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
