IT was a brilliant PBA debut for Juan Gomez de Liano, but one that felt too short.
The No. 2 overall pick of the Season 50 draft owned up to the failed bid of the FiberXers to advance past the Philippine Cup quarterfinals and stressed more work has to be done for the team to go deeper in the playoffs.
“Of course, bitin. I didn’t get the job done," Gomez de Liano said of how he looked at his maiden conference in Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
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“My main goal was to help the team go past the next round. I feel like ever since Converge joined the PBA, they had a difficult time going past the quarterfinals,” he added. “Now, we had the best chance especially we had the twice-to-beat. So pretty much sobrang bitin for me.”
Nonetheless, the 25-year-old Gomez De Liano already made a case for himself as one of the rising stars in the league in so short a time.
Right in his first stint with the FiberXers, the team earned its first twice-to-beat playoff bonus in franchise history.
He also led Converge in scoring and assists with averages of 19.0 and 7.2, while doing his share in rebounding with a 6.6 boards.
And this early, Gomez De Liano is showing the way among rookies as far as statistical points are concerned.
Even in the knockout game against Ginebra, Gomez De Liano proved he can shine under grinding pressure by knocking in 25 big points including 18 combined in the fourth period and in overtime.
“He needed to make a statement,” said Converge coach Delta Pineda of his prized rookie. “He’s a great kid who’s determined to do his best for the team.”
Still, winning is everything for the University of the Philippines product.
“I’m here to win a championship. We fell short, so that’s on me,” said Gomez De Liano.
The mid-season Commissioner’s Cup won’t be held until March of 2026 yet. But this early, the Converge rookie can’t wait to see the FiberXers competing again.
“It’s on to the next conference,” he said.
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