JUAN Gomez de Liano wouldn't deny that he always has an extra sauce whenever he faces Ateneo.
"Every time we go up against Ateneo, I always go all out. Always yun. It’s really extra motivation," he said.
The UAAP Season 80 Rookie of the Year has a lot of history with the Katipunan school where he spent his grade school days.
"Nung nasa Ateneo pa ako back in Grade 7, hindi ako nakapag-varsity. I didn’t have failing grades and I just had one grade na line of seven. Doon pa lang, I have something to prove na," he shared.
It didn't take long before the Gomez de Liano brothers transferred to Diliman, where UPIS welcomed them with open arms.
Juan himself admits that facing the Blue Eagles, from the juniors level to the seniors stage, always brings the best out of him.
"You know, every time na we’re going up against Ateneo, it always motivates me. The fact na high school, they didn’t get me. Then college, they're interested lang but they didn’t get me, that's motivation para sa akin to go up against them. Not just the team," he said.
That's why it shouldn't come as a surprise that the 18-year-old guard lit up for 29 points, six rebounds, and two assists on Wednesday, refusing to lose in UP's 87-79 setback against Ateneo.
As frustrating as the outcome was, Gomez de Liano is looking to build on this game as the Fighting Maroons aim to bounce back on Sunday against UST.
"I’m just being more of a leader sa team. We could’ve done better, but onto the next game na lang," he said, while also looking forward on his next crack on toppling the mighty Blue Eagles.
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