Javi Gomez de Liano isn’t hiding that he misses home so much that coming back and playing in the PBA again is actually among the options on his table.
In fact, the versatile winger admitted that a team has already reached out to him and both camps are set to talk things over now that he’s in town.
“Meron eh, isa,” he said without naming which ball club is it. “Isang team, actually. We’re gonna meet pa lang eh. Pero wala, verbal pa lang.”
Gomez de Liano said as much on Friday night, as he was part of the SMART Araneta Coliseum crowd that watched San Miguel wallop Barangay Ginebra, 104-93, in a clash between PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup favorites.
The former Terrafirma standout is back home after his Anyang JKJ got swept by Ulsan in the 2024-25 KBL best-of-3 quarterfinals last April 17.
It wasn’t the kind of exit they sure wanted, but he’s nonetheless enthralled by his first season in the Korean league for how it broadened his experience.
“Maganda rin ‘yung experience playing in the KBL,” he said. “As a player, I get to experience different kinds of styles of basketball. Honestly ‘yun lang naman ‘yung goal ko eh, just to experience different brands of basketball.
“But for sure, the KBL has really helped me a lot. I became a better shooter and a better defender.”
(c) PBA Images
His recent KBL stint marked the second time in his pro career that he played as an import after doing so with the Ibaraki Robots of the B.League in 2021.
Now he’s waiting for offers from both Korea and Japan to come his way as he plans to explore possible options before making his next move.
“At the moment wala pa eh, since we just ended last week,” he said, referring to the KBL. “Usually that will come, like, early next month. Right now I’m just relaxing, taking time away from basketball just to catch up with family and life.
But if ever a PBA team knocks on his door and presents a good offer, then he might just go with it, for ‘nothing beats playing at home,” he said.
“I’m thinking about it, actually. I’m also waiting for offers sa other leagues from Japan, Korea,” said Gomez de Liano. “But definitely, if I get a good offer here, I hope I do, so that it would give me a reason to stay here, be with family.
“I’m at this point where I want to settle down na rin eh, nakakapagod din bumiyahe sa abroad,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas member.
His rights are still with the Dyip, though, and that’s why the eighth overall pick by the Kings in the 2022 PBA Rookie Draft is keeping all options open as he tries to plot what’s ahead of him — while being extra careful, of course.
“Let’s see how that goes,” he said.
#WATCH: Javi Gomez de Liano opens up about the possibility of his return to the PBA after his contract with Anyang JKJ expired 🏀
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBA2025 #KBL pic.twitter.com/4AcpdCP9Jp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 25, 2025
