Gomez de Liano earns fifth weekly award as Converge takes No. 3 seed
The rookie posted a triple-double against Macau and scored 22 points against TNT as the FiberXers finished the eliminations with an 8-4 record.
Juan Gomez de Liano received the PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week award for October 14-18 after helping Converge beat Macau and TNT. The FiberXers ended the eliminations at 8-4, securing the third seed in Group A for the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.
The award was Gomez de Liano’s fifth weekly honour. Against Macau’s Giant Pandas, he contributed 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists as Converge won 162-108.
PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon III said the performance brought the rookie’s season tally to five triple-doubles, a record for a first-year player. Converge also set franchise marks with 162 points, a 54-point winning margin and 53 assists.
Two nights later, Gomez de Liano supplied 22 points and eight assists in a 114-112 overtime victory against TNT. His fourth-quarter contributions included a four-point basket and an assist to Alec Stockton that helped Converge draw level before regulation ended.
In overtime, he set up Stockton again and made a jumper during Converge’s 6-2 run over the final 2:39. Gomez de Liano took the weekly award ahead of contenders including Stockton and Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson.
