JUAN Gomez de Liaño is mighty glad where he ended up at the end of the PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft.
Gomez de Liaño was picked at No. 2 overall by the FiberXers, who had to trade up from No. 8 to get their hands on the well-travelled internationalist, giving up Bryan Santos to facilitate the pick swap with Phoenix.
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“I feel truly grateful to be in this position right now,” said the 24-year-old Gomez de Liaño, who previously had stints in Japan, Lithuania, and Korea before finally joining the PBA draft.
“Super excited to be part of a wonderful organization under Converge FiberXers, the staff, the management, teammates. Can’t wait to work with them and build something,” said the former University of the Philippines standout.
Juan GDL revealed Converge management already spoke to him a week before the draft to discuss their plans for him in the pursuit of league championships.
“I met with them a week ago. I love their plan for me,” said Gomez de Liano. “We are all on the same page. Our goal is to win a championship. I can’t wait to represent Converge.”
Gomez de Liaño will be working alongside a Converge core that already has twin towers Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana and got as far as the quarterfinals during the 49th season conferences.
“We really have a young core. A lot of great players especially we got arguably the best two local bigs, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar, Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton. I can’t wait to play with them.
“The players, they know how to play within the system and they know how to play the right way,” said Gomez de Liano.
The 6-foot-1 Gomez de Liaño is determined to repay the trust of Converge.
“I can’t ask for more. I’m blessed to be chosen by Converge. I know the team owner, the coaching staff, all the bosses, I won’t let them regret their pick. I’m just going to do my best,” said Juan GDL.
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