A young Gilas Pilipinas star Juan Gomez de Liano scored 22 points for the BC Wolves in a 89-60 road win over Valmiera Glass ViA on Tuesday, January 10, at the Vidzeme Olympic center in northern Latvia.
Players of the game
There are basketball stars all around the globe.
Juan Gomez de Liano proved it on a cold and wet January night 9000 kilometers from home.
BC Wolves guard scored 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field, including a 5-of-9 effort from the three point line, and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Juan Gomez tied young Valmiera team in three-pointers made (5/9 vs 5/17).
A former University of Philippines (2017-2019) standout added four assists, five steals and one blocked shot for a +/- ratio of 25 in less than 25 minutes of play.
Juan Gomez so far averaged 05:09 minutes in the Lithuania Basketball league and four minutes at the Citadele King Mindaugas Cup.
He scored 11 points in the first half on 3-of-4 shooting from the three point line.
Juan Gomez continued to torch Valmiera`s defense from deep and finished some fast breaks too.
Regimantas Miniotas took over under the basket.
A 2017 Universiade champion in Taipei, Republic of China, had 20 points on 9-of-12 accuracy from the field.
Center grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked one shot.
Eigirdas Žukauskas excelled from the deep as he made 4-of-6 three pointers enroute to 15 points.
He spend previous four seasons at Parma Perm together with Kazys Maksvytis, who pull the strings for Žalgiris Kaunas now.
Valters Vēveris led Valmiera Glass ViA with 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting from the field.
Captain added three rebounds, one steal and one block before he was fouled out.
Tervell Beck also scored 12 points.
A former Kent State center made two three-pointers second night in a row.
Beck grabbed seven rebounds as well.
Edgars Kaufmanis and Australian center Deng Matur Gak scored nine points each.
Key stats
Juan Gomez de Liano and Regimantas Miniotas combined for 21 points in the first half for a 36-27 lead.
Valmiera Glass ViA cut the gap to a single point early in the second half, 38-37 and 41-40.
The home team had a chance to take lead but Edgars Kaufmanis missed a three pointer.
A tide turned midway the third quarter as the Wolves pulled away for a 58-42 advantage before the final 10 minutes.
Adas Juškevičius and Eigirdas Žukauskas scored two three-pointers each during a 17-2 run.
Juan Gomez de Liano took over in the fourth quarter.
Game notes
BC Wolves coach Rimas Kurtinaitis rested several of his starters.
Jeffery Taylor, Mindaugas Lukauskis and Ahmad Caver did no dressed for the game.
Center Eric Buckner watched the game from the bench, while Marcos Delia is injured.
The reserve players got the job done.
BC Wolves improved to 2-0, while Valmiera Glass ViA dropped to 0-4.
Oskars Virsis team will continue to chase the first win.
SCHEDULE (local time only)
Monday, January 9, Tartu (GMT+3h)
Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits 77–79 BC Wolves
Monday, January 9, Valmiera (GMT+3h)
Valmiera Glass ViA 71–94 BM Stal Ostrow
Tuesday, January 10, Tartu
BM Stal Ostrow 84–65 Tartu Ülikool Maks&Moorits
Tuesday, January 10, Valmiera
BC Wolves 89–60 Valmiera Glass ViA
Wednesday, January 11, Lublin (GMT+2h)
19:00 Polski Cukier Start Lublin – Šiauliai
STANDINGS, as of January 10, 2023
Group A
Budivelnyk Kyiv 4-0 (+56) Qualified
Kalev/Cramo 2-3 (+26)
Zastal Zielona Gora 2-2 (-14)
Polski Cukier Start Lublin 2-1 (+29)
Šiauliai 2-0 (+13)
KB Sigal Prishtina 1-3 (-40)
TalTech Optibet 0-4 (-70)
Tie-breaker: Kalev/Cramo 1-1, +6; Sigal Prishtina 1-1, +3; Zastal Zielona Gora 1-1, -9.
STANDINGS, as of January 10, 2023
Group B
Stal Ostrow 4-1 (+63)
King Szczecin 4-0 (+32)
Tartu University 2-3 (+8)
Ironi Ness Ziona 2-2 (+3)
Trefl Sopot 2-2 (+22)
BC Wolves 2-0 (+31)
Basket Brno 0-4 (-46)
Valmiera Glass VIA 0-4 (-113)
Tie-breaker (1): Ironi Ness Ziona 1-0, +8; Trefl Sopot 0-1, -8.
Perfect start, let's go!