JUAN OF A KIND
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal—Juan Gomez de Liaño just proved why he’s considered a major piece in Converge’s championship ambitions. And he did so by pulling off what no other player has ever done in the PBA’s 50-year history.
Gomez de Liaño’s 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Saturday’s 129-92 rout of Titan Ultra at Ynares Center II here allowed him to become the first-ever rookie to register a triple-double in his PBA debut.
“Not a bad way to start my PBA career,” Gomez de Liaño later said.
Not bad, indeed. Gomez de Liaño played true to expectations raised by his performance during the FiberXers’ tuneup games leading up to the season-opening Philippine Cup.
He did the trick in 33 minutes—more than he should have in a game that was long decided before the final buzzer as the team convinced him he could pull off what he had done a few times during his UAAP career with the University of the Philippines and for Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League.
It was also the first triple-double by a rookie since Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson in 2016.
Nonetheless, Gomez de Liaño was doubly glad to secure the result that enabled the FiberXers to set in motion their quest to play spoiler to the championship duopoly held by teams from San Miguel Corp. and the MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) group.
“It’s a total team effort and I give the proper credit to our coaching staff, especially our players for executing our game plan,” said Gomez de Liaño, who played before his parents and siblings, including brother Javi of the Magnolia Hotshots.
Justin Arana, who has held the fort for Converge since its PBA entry in 2022, had 28 points and 22 rebounds that also helped secure a winning start to the tenure of Pampanga vice governor Delta Pineda as the one calling the shots for the FiberXers.
The long trip to this municipality, still known by its old name of Montalban, pales in comparison to what Converge will endure next Saturday when it goes to Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to take on TNT in a highly anticipated showdown.
TNT opened the season the previous night, also here in Rizal, by defeating Phoenix, 93-78, as almost everyone from Rey Nambatac to new additions Kevin Ferrer and Jio Jalalon stepped up.
Titan Ultra was sent crashing back to earth after starting its PBA foray with an upset of Meralco behind 41 points from Calvin Abueva.
Abueva, however, was scratched after five minutes due to a hamstring injury as the Giant Risers had little answers to the FiberXers’ onslaught.
Meanwhile, action returns to Antipolo on Sunday to wrap up the first week of Season 50 with NLEX going for a 2-0 start against Terrafirma at 5 p.m., while San Miguel Beer tries to bounce back against Phoenix at 7:30 p.m.
