By REYNALD MAGALLON
The PBA draft is not only a big leap in the careers of this year’s top prospects but also a homecoming of sorts after spending much of their young careers overseas.
Juan Gomez de Liano, Geo Chiu, Dalph Panopio and even Jason Brickman have all played and honed their talents first elsewhere before deciding to give the PBA the shot.
“I’m really looking forward to playing in the PBA. I feel like it’s the perfect time,” said Gomez De Liano who is not set to join his brother Javi in the PBA.
“I played overseas, gained a lot of experience not just as a player but as a person. Nagpa-mature muna ako ng sarili and now, I have the perfect chance to be here,” he added.
Gomez de Liano, after graduating from the University of the Philippines, immediately tried his luck overseas where he had stints in countries like Lithuania, Korea and Japan.
Likewise, Panopio feels like joining the PBA was the right direction to take after spending, not just his basketball career, but also his entire life away from home.
The six-foot playmaker was born and raised in Italy to Filipino parents and spent the early days of his career there. He then moved to the US to play college ball and when he turned pro, had stints in South Korea and India.
“I’m excited kasi I love the game of basketball. So what I’ve learned in the United States, in Europe, in Italy, in Korea and India wherever I played madadala ko sa scrimmage and sino makakalaban namin,” said Panopio.
For the 6-foot-9 center Chiu, he feels like it was just the perfect to make the jump to the PBA after experiencing what it is like playing in the pros following his stints in Japan, Taiwan and in the MPBL.
“Looking back, it’s something I really wanted to fulfill. And sakto rin naman, yung opportunity ngayon. And siguro, I just want to be close to my family also. It’s something na medyo mahirap kasi when you’re abroad,” said the 24-year-old center.
Although not present during the combine, Brickman was also on the same boat as the three, having bounced around leagues in the ABL, in Southeast Asia and in Taiwan.
He attempted to apply for the draft several times in the past but issues with his documents barred him from joining the league earlier.
