De Liaño embraces busy schedule ahead
Juan Gomez de Liaño will be a busy man for the next week—and possibly until the end of the year.
With Gilas Pilipinas duties on tap and Converge in the semifinals for the first time, Gomez de Liaño would surely not complain.
“Hopefully I can give an impact to the team in my own ways and pretty much just help the team,” he said.
The do-it-all playmaker was talking about the national team. But he may have been speaking about Converge as well, as he hopes to get both jobs done to cap a rookie season, where he has emerged as one of the top players in the PBA—and of Gilas PIlipinas.
Gomez de Liaño is more than a week removed from helping the FiberXers finish off the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Governors’ Cup quarterfinals, a win that logged a milestone for a franchise that joined the league only in 2022.
It is in stark contrast to both Terrafirma and Blackwater, two expansion franchises which joined the league in 2014 and have yet to reach the semifinals.
Converge will be taking on NLEX in a best-of-five semifinal series that will start on Dec. 4 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in a dream scenario for both teams.
“I don’t think we’re going to slack off. We’re just going to stay prepared and just focus because we’re very far from done,” said Gomez de Liaño.
The winner of their showdown will barge into the Finals for the first time against either Barangay Ginebra or TNT, two of the league’s perennial contenders.
The former University of the Philippines star will be a crucial figure in Converge’s quest to extend its breakthrough run after performing well in the 3-1 triumph over Rain or Shine in the quarters.
But first, the southpaw guard will focus on what is in front of him, with Gilas set to play Syria and Iran in the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers in Seremban, Malaysia.
Gilas will look to sweep both games, with Gomez de Liaño eager to pick up where he left off in the August window with his vital showing in the contrasting victories over Jordan and Iran at home.
The fourth window appeared to have cemented Gomez de Liano’s place in coach Tim Cone’s squad.
“Very crucial games. Must-win, must-win games,” Gomez de Liaño said. “I hope my performance continues and I’m just going to stay ready.”
