IT was a happy reunion for former high school and college teammates Diego Dario of Meralco and Juan Gomez de Liano of the Seoul SK Knights when their teams clashed in the East Asia Super League (EASL) last month.
They celebrated it by exchanging jerseys and by reminiscing a bit.
Dario, de Liano go back since HS
They were high school and college teammates at the University of the Philippines with Dario in his senior year and de Liano, a freshman. But the gap appeared not to matter as they built a bond over the years even as they pursued their basketball careers.
“Siyempre, kami ni Juan, we go way back since high school,” said the 27-year-old Dario. “Magkasama kami sa UPIS, teammates kami nun. Mahaba na rin ‘yung pinagsamahan namin. Parang naging mentor rin ako sa kanya nung high school. Tapos gumaling siya. Nung nasa Korea na siya, message-message pa rin.”
"Nung time na magkalaban ‘yung team namin, sabi namin na baka puwede mag-exchange ng jerseys," Dario said. "Matagal na rin kaming hindi nagkita. More than basketball ‘yung samahan namin ni Juan. Good experience na makalaban namin sila dito sa Philippines.”
Gomez de Liano’s team won their December 27 game, the Knights prevailing, 81-80, at the Philsports Arena. Gomez de Liano played for only four minutes, but despite the limited time, he made four points.
During a December 14 game, Gomez de Liano scored 12 points in 12 minutes against Korea Gas Corporation.
De Liano blossoms into point guard
The 24-year-old Gomez de Liano's career has seen an uptick since starting in 2021 in Japan and then in Lithunia, where he moved a year later. He may have found his niche in Korea where he has developed into a true point guard in that country's professional league, the KBL.
“Kumpiyansa pa rin. ‘Yun naman ang puhunan niya. Always confident with his game, no matter how many minutes. Alam ko galing siya sa injury so slowly but surely siya na pinapasok sa rotation. Nakaka-adjust na rin siya sa international game. Ibang iba ‘yun sa laro natin dito,” said Dario.
“Mas mature na siya when it comes to reading the defense. Playing the game, mas mabagal na, and I mean it comes with experience sa basketball so mas tama na ‘yung ginagawa niya as a point guard. ‘Yun ‘yung feel ko na mas best niyang matutunan being a true point guard."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
