PBA Player of the Week Gomez de Liaño stands out in Converge’s big wins vs Macau, TNT

MANILA — Converge super rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño stood out in the FiberXers’ big wins over Macau and TNT to grab No. 3 seeding of Group A in the coming PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.

His brilliant all-around performances in the two outings earned him the nod as the PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week for the period Oct. 14 to 18.

Gomez de Liaño turned in a triple-double of 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in Converge’s 162-108 rout of the Giant Pandas. 

The Gilas playmaker, according to PBA stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, recorded his fifth triple-double game this season – the most for a freshman ever, the most since Ginebra import Justin Brownlee also had five three seasons ago and the most for a local since the legendary Ramon Fernandez had 25 in 1984.

This game also produced new franchise records for Converge in most points in a game, biggest winning margin (54) and assists (53).

Gomez de Liaño returned two nights later with a 22-point, eight-assist outing and help the FiberXers wrest a 114-112 come-from-behind win in overtime over the Tropang 5G. 

He hit a clutch four-point basket during their fourth-quarter fightback and assisted Alec Stockton in forcing a deadlock in regulation time. He made another pivotal assist to Stockton and key jumper as the FiberXers unleashed a 6-2 barrage in the last 2:39 of OT to complete the steal.

This marked Gomez de Liano’s fifth time to win the weekly citation handed by reporters covering the PBA beat. 

He beat the likes of Scottie Thompson, whose 29-10-6 effort helped Barangay Ginebra revive its quarterfinal drive with a 106-89 rout Phoenix, and his teammate Stockton, whose scoring outburst was key against TNT.