Behind Juan Gomez de Liaño’s stellar play, the Converge FiberXers marched into the quarterfinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup with a bang.
The FiberXers are in unfamiliar territory, earning twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
Converge closed the elimination round with a hard-earned 107-95 overtime victory over NLEX last Dec. 17, securing the team’s 7th win against 4 losses.
That last win was enough for Delta Pineda’s team to claim No. 4 spot for the last win-once bonus in the playoffs.
Juan GDL has been on a roll in his rookie conference, tallying the third triple-double of his young career to the tune of 20 points anchored on 7 of 17 field goal shooting, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
The 26-year-old guard out of UP spiced his performance with 4 steals.
Gomez de Liaño emerged as the choice for the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week (Dec. 15-21), his third citation for the golden season-opening tournament given by scribes regulary covering the PBA beat.
The 6-foot spitfire playmaker tabbed No. 2 overall by Converge in the 2025 Draft narrowly edged teammate Justine Baltazar, CJ Perez of San Miguel, Jhonard Clarito of Rain or Shine, and RJ Abarrientos of Ginebra.
That victory over NLEX was big. Had the Road Warriors won, the FiberXers would have a win-twice handicap in the playoffs
As per chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, this is the first time Converge has been in the playoffs with a twice-to-beat advantage since taking over the Alaska Aces franchise in 2022
The FiberXers will now navigate uncharted territory in the quarterfinals against Ginebra whom they beat 106-96 in the elims last Nov. 14.
With Gomez de Liaño’s continued leadership, Converge shoot for that one win to barge into the final four. The FiberXers had their first chance on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
