Tiu tempers expectations on Gozum at Phoenix

Phoenix Rising Coach Tiu's Fortuitous Reunion with Gozum

The Phoenix Suns have made a bold move by signing Will Gozum, the 8th overall pick in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft. This reunion is a fortuitous one for coach Charles Tiu, who had previously mentored Gozum at College of St. Benilde and watched him blossom into an NCAA star.

As Tiu takes the reins from Willy Wilson, he's exercising caution with Gozum, acknowledging that injuries and limited playing time in the MPBL have impacted his development. To be honest, he looked better when he was in Benilde, Tiu admitted to The Manila Times. It's hard coming off a torn ACL and not playing much in the MPBL.

Gozum's collegiate stint at St. Benilde saw him finish second behind Letran, followed by a decent first season with the Quezon Huskers in the MPBL. However, his subsequent season was cut short due to a knee injury.

Tiu is taking a measured approach with Gozum, recognizing that he needs to earn his playing time and understand the pecking order in the team's loaded front court position. He will have to work and earn his minutes, Tiu said. We have a lot of guys in his position.

In addition to Gozum, Phoenix has also acquired PBA Commissioner's Cup import James Dickey, who is expected to be a key contributor. Listed at 6-10, Dickey comes off a stint with Pelita Jaya, which he helped win the Indonesia Basketball League title in 2024.

As Tiu shapes the future of his team, he's prioritizing fortuitous pairings like Gozum and Dickey. James is the right fit for us, he said. With these two key signings, Phoenix is poised to make a splash in the upcoming season.

Key Takeaways

Coach Charles Tiu is tempering his expectations on Will Gozum, acknowledging that injuries and limited playing time have impacted his development
Gozum needs to earn his playing time and understand the pecking order in the team's loaded front court position
PBA Commissioner's Cup import James Dickey is expected to be a key contributor for Phoenix
Tiu prioritizes fortuitous pairings like Gozum and Dickey, recognizing their potential impact on the team

Fortuitous Connections

Coach Charles Tiu's mentorship of Will Gozum during his collegiate days at College of St. Benilde
The signing of PBA Commissioner's Cup import James Dickey, who is expected to be a key contributor for Phoenix
* The potential impact of these connections on the team's performance in the upcoming season

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Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.