Juan Gomez de Liano vows to repay Converge after No. 2 selection in PBA Rookie Draft 2025

Former Gilas Pilipinas Youth and UP Fighting Maroons star Juan Gomez de Liano was selected as the second overall pick in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft, joining the Converge FiberXers on Sunday, September 7, at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Converge pulled off a move to climb up the board, trading the No. 8 pick and center Bryant Santos to the Phoenix Fuel Masters to acquire the No. 2 selection. The FiberXers used it to snag the 25-year-old guard, who already owns a wealth of international experience.

Gomez de Liano couldn’t hide his excitement.

“I can’t ask for more. I’m blessed to be chosen by Converge. I know the team owner, coaching staff, and all the bosses. I won’t let them regret their pick. I’m just going to do my best,” he said.

Among the top five picks of this year’s draft, Gomez de Liano stood out as the most seasoned, with stints in professional leagues in Lithuania, Japan, and South Korea.

The FiberXers bolster their backcourt with the addition of De Liaño, who will backstop Schonny Winston and Alec Stockton. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/MrQeiCiXDZ

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) September 7, 2025

He now joins a promising Converge core that features big men Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana along with guards Schonny Winston and Alec Stockton.

“I love their plan for me. We’re on the same page. My goal is to win a championship. We got a lot of great players—arguably the best two local bigs in Arana and Baltazar, plus Winston and Stockton. I can’t wait to play with them. They know how to play the right way,” he added.

Gomez de Liano’s road to the PBA was far from conventional. After his UAAP stint, he skipped the draft and instead tested his skills overseas. He suited up in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament, the PBA D-League, and the MPBL with the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in 2021.

That same year, he signed with Earthfriends Tokyo Z in Japan’s B2 League, later moving to BC Wolves in Lithuania. Most recently, he played for the Seoul SK Knights in Korea until May 2025, when he was released after the team signed fellow Filipino Arvin Tolentino.

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