Ever since arriving at Converge last year, Juan Gomez de Liano has become public enemy No. 1 for Ginebra fans.
Who could forget Game 2 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, when Gomez de Liano was jeered after throwing a taunt toward the Ginebra faithful?
He also found himself on the receiving end of an online parody from Ginebra big man Raymond Aguilar afterwards.
Heading into the second window of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, fans even pitted Gomez de Liano against one of their own, debating who deserved to be Scottie Thompson’s backup in Gilas Pilipinas Men — Gomez de Liano or RJ Abarrientos.
Gomez de Liano, however, insists there is no internal competition between him and Abarrientos in Gilas.
After all, they have been friends since their days under Tab Baldwin in Gilas back in 2021.
“Out here? No, I don’t see it as competition. We’re out here just trying to help each other get better, trying to motivate and uplift each other. I don’t see it as any competition, honestly,” Gomez de Liano told Tiebreaker Times.
“You know, that’s my guy. And as long as we’re representing the country, that’s a win-win for us, just to be here at the Gilas pool.”
On Wednesday evening, Tim Cone chose the 6-foot Gomez de Liano over the 5-foot-11 Abarrientos as part of the Gilas 12 that will face the New Zealand Tall Blacks on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
It marks the first time in four years that Gomez de Liano will suit up for Gilas Men.
“It’s truly a blessing to be back — just to be part of the pool itself, to be out there with the guys, to be able to compete with them every day and just try to get better,” he expressed.
“So, I mean, honestly, I’m just really happy that I’m back and, you know, hopefully I get to contribute and help the team in my own way. So, yeah, it’s truly a blessing.”
Still, Gomez de Liano knows the game against New Zealand will be a tough one.
The Filipinos have beaten the Kiwis only once, and that was with Kai Sotto in the lineup.
“It’s going to be a competitive game, I feel like, but we’re going to fight it out to the end and we’re not going to give up. We’re not going to underestimate any opponent,” he said.
“And like I said, Australia and New Zealand are really two good teams. And I hope we really have a good chance to win both games, especially with the way we’ve been preparing. And yeah, hopefully we get to turn things around.”
After the window, Gomez de Liano and the rest of the pool will once again go their separate ways — some returning to the PBA, others heading back to Japan and Korea.
As for him and Abarrientos, it will be all business when they meet again.
“Of course, once we face each other in the PBA, it’s a different story. We’re all business,” he quipped.
“We’re trying to help our team win.”
With reports by Icko De Guzman
