THE day after the thrilling PBA Philippine Cup knockout quarterfinal between Barangay Ginebra and Converge on Sunday night, FiberXers super rookie Juan Gomez de Liano is all over the internet.
Sadly, for the wrong reasons.
Juan GdL led a valiant stand by the FiberXers in the do-or-die game, scoring a team-high 25 points. That included a three-point play late in regulation and a four-pointer that appeared to have sealed Ginebra's fate, 95-89, with 1:38 to go in overtime.
The flamboyant rookie celebrated the big basket with a gesture that seemed appropriate at that time.
WATCH:
However, moments later Ginebra went on a classic NSD comeback capped Stephen Holt's game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer that gave the Kings a 99-98 win and a place in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals opposite San Miguel.
Suddenly, JGdL's gesture didn't age well. Ginebra fans were all over him on social media, and even Ginebra back-up big man Raymond Aguilar joined in, mimicking the Converge rookie's gesture during the dugout celebration.
WATCH:
Gomez de Liano, at least, took it all in stride, talking about the loss as an experience that should make the youth-laden FiberXers better in the long haul.
“It’s a good experience so we’ve got to take the lessons learned, and it’s on to the next conference,” he said. “We should get better from this.”
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.
