Juan Gomez de Liaño delivers clutch debut as Converge downs Meralco in tune-up

Juan Gomez de Liaño didn’t need much time to make an impact. In his first game wearing Converge colors, the No. 2 overall pick in the Season 50 PBA Draft proved why he’s been one of the most hyped young guards of his generation, leading the Converge FiberXers to a 109-103 win over Meralco in a Thursday tune-up at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

With the game on the line, Gomez de Liaño put on a late-game masterclass. First came a four-point shot from the right wing to break a deadlock and push Converge ahead, 105-99, with 1:33 remaining. 

Then, when Meralco’s CJ Cansino answered with a three-point play, Gomez de Liaño coolly sliced into the lane for a layup that restored order, giving Converge a 107-102 cushion with 50 seconds left. Those buckets sealed the FiberXers’ control in the dying moments.

The performance was all the more symbolic, as it marked Gomez de Liaño’s long-awaited debut for his new squad after missing the previous scrimmage against Rain or Shine. 

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Juan Gomez de Liaño scored a four-point shot and a lay-up in the final minutes as Converge defeated Meralco, 109-103, in his first tune-up game with the FiberXers | @spinph pic.twitter.com/H8XHrs4OTm

— Reuben Terrado (@reubensports) September 18, 2025

On the same day Converge fell in that match, he officially signed a three-year maximum rookie contract — an immediate show of faith by the franchise in their young cornerstone.

For the 24-year-old guard, the spotlight is nothing new. A former UAAP Rookie of the Year with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Gomez de Liaño helped spark UP’s resurgence before pursuing a career abroad. 

He honed his game in Japan’s B.League, the Korean Basketball League, experiences that broadened his skill set and composure on the international stage. He also represented the country as part of the Gilas Pilipinas program, further raising expectations about his future.

Now back home and in the PBA, his arrival is seen as a major piece in Converge’s rebuilding efforts. The FiberXers are betting on Gomez de Liaño’s ability to be both a primary scorer and a steady playmaker who can carry the franchise for years to come.

If his tune-up debut is any indication, Converge’s investment is in good hands. Calm under pressure and confident in his shot-making, Gomez de Liaño wasted no time in reminding fans why his name has been on the radar since his teenage years — and why the FiberXers believe he is the face of their future.

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