Young guns Juan Gomez de Liaño and Quentin Millora-Brown led 10 other players who attended the first day of Gilas Pilipinas training on Tuesday at the Blue Eagle gym inside the Ateneo de Manila University.

Officially added to the list of the 18-man Gilas pool named by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Monday evening, the University of the Philippines products joined other holdovers, including naturalized player Justin Brownlee, as the Tim Cone-mentored squad kicked off its buildup for the first window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Guam set later this month.

Also in attendance were big men June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Troy Rosario, Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos, Dwight Ramos and Jamie Malonzo.

Gilas’ other naturalized player Ange Kouame, as well as 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto, who is still recovering from a knee injury, skipped practice but are expected to show up in the coming days.

Cone is taking advantage of the less than two weeks of preparation to integrate Gomez de Liaño and Millora-Brown to Gilas’ system.

“QMB and Juan will be the only ones who don’t know the system and need to be taught. So, they’ll be starting from ground zero,” Cone said.

Gomez de Liaño has already seen action for the tricolors back in 2023 during the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers under Chot Reyes.

His presence will beef up Gilas’ Achilles’ heel of having no pure point guard in Cone’s backcourt roster.

Six-foot-10 Millora-Brown, on the other hand, is expected to add ceiling with Sotto still out of commission. Sotto will not suit up but join Gilas in its Guam stop to show his support from the sidelines.

Calvin Oftana dropped by the practice session but has been ruled out for the road game on 28 November and the 1 December game, the Philippines will host against the same rivals at the Blue Eagle Gym, due to a hamstring injury.

“Calvin is out. He already begged off. He is going to be out, apparently, three to four weeks, which takes it past Guam,” Cone said.

Overseas-based Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo have yet to hook up with the team due to their club commitments in Korea while AJ Edu was given some time off as he prepares for his wedding.

“Now, AJ is getting married, and he’s going to miss most of the preparation. He’ll be there for the games. I think he’s arriving the day before we leave for Guam,” Cone said.

The decorated mentor has also expressed confidence that Brownlee will get back in game shape in time for the games after a bout with pneumonia a few weeks back.

The 37-year-old workhorse arrived in the country last Friday.

“He looks like he lost a little weight, which is probably good for him. He probably lost (weight) because he was sick more than from workout,” Cone said of the resident Barangay Ginebra import.

“But he’s got some weight that he can gain over the next week or two and get back to playing shape,” he added.

Brownlee last played for Gilas during its seventh-place finish in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup last August, where he averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

“But you know, Justin is Justin. They don’t call him ‘Magic Brownlee’ for nothing. He finds ways,” Cone said.

Gilas will continue its daily practices at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas before heading to Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna, for a mini training camp.

“I think we really know how important this Guam series is for us. It’s absolutely crucial if we want to have any chance at all to make the World Cup,” Cone said.