No. 2 pick Juan Gomez de Liaño joins a young Converge core that is looking to mature in a bona fide title contender starting PBA Season 50.
Converge is looking at a semifinal appearance when it tabbed Juan Gomez de Liaño in the first round of the PBA Season 50 Draft.
Delta Pineda had that to say, adding the FiberXers intentionally made the trade for the no. 2 pick to acquire the services of the well-traveled guard out of UP.
“Talagang si Juan po yung target namin,” said Pineda, who will now call the shots for the FiberXers.
The concurrent Pampanga vice governor is beaming with optimism that Gomez de Liaño could be the missing piece of the team’s young core, which also feature Alec Stockton, Justin Arana, and Justine Baltazar.
“Talagang international na po yung mga games na nalaruan niya. It will be a big help sa Converge kasi alam nyo naman puro bata yung amin so makaka-add ng experience tong bata na to,” Pineda said of Gomez de Liaño, who signed a three-year deal with Converge.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Juan Gomez de Liaño gets three-year deal with Converge FiberXers]
Over the past couple of years, Converge has continued to improve, proving it could be a PBA title contender sooner or later.
Pineda is hopeful that time will be next season when the FiberXers gun for at least a semifinal appearance after several quarterfinal stints in the PBA.
“Still praying na talagang umano ‘tong mga bata. Hopefully, mga three years na rin kami sa league, itong mga bata unti-unti nagkakaroon ng experience,” he said.
“Nakikita kung gano kahirap ang PBA. I think naman itong next season is nag mature na tong ibang players namin.”
[ALSO READ: PBA no. 2 pick Juan Gomez de Liaño vows not to let Converge down]
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.