FINALLY at home, prized playmaker Juan Gómez de Liaño vowed not to let Converge down after it tabbed him No. 2 overall in last Sunday’s annual PBA rookie Draft.
With the lefty 6-foot Gómez de Liaño further beefing up the team, it’s championship or bust for the FiberXers when they launch their bid in the season-opening Philippine Cup that fires off Oct. 5.
“I’m super excited to be part of the Converge FiberXers. The staff, the management, the teammates, can’t wait to get to work with them and hopefully build something,” Gómez de Liaño said. “I met with them a week ago, and I really love their plan for me.
“We’re all on the same page, and our goal is to win a championship. I can’t wait to represent Converge,” he added.
A former University of the Philippines standout, Gómez de Liaño, 25, saw action overseas in Japan, Lithuania, and Korea, gaining the needed pro experience.
Joining an already promising Converge quintet now under new coach and Pampanga Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda will only prop up their bid to win a first-ever crown since acquiring the Alaska franchise in 2022.
“We really got a young core. We’ve got a lot of great players, especially we’ve got arguably the best two local bigs in Justin Arana and Justin Baltazar, and we’ve got Schonny Winston,” Gómez de Liaño, also a former PBA D-League MVP, said. “Can’t wait to play with them.”
Battling his older brother Javi of Magnolia in Asia’s pioneering pro league excites Juan, too.
“That’s what I said, the players know how to play within the system, and they know how to play the right way. It’s gonna be exciting. Can’t wait for that match-up. Javi and I in the PBA is something we dreamt about as kids. Now, that we’re here, it’s really great,” he said.
“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, and I’m gonna do my best.”
While he slipped to second overall in the proceedings behind 6-foot-9 center Geo Chiu, Gómez de Liaño is ready to prove that’s just fine—and he will use it as motivation to be Converge’s No. 1 player.
