Juan Gomez de Liaño signs three-year deal with Converge

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Converge FiberXers have secured top pick Juan Gomez de Liaño to a three-year rookie maximum contract deal announced on Sept. 13, 2025.

Selected second overall during the recently concluded PBA Rookie Draft ceremony, de Liaño will have the luxury to earn the highest salary that the league allows for first-year players.

The former University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons standout can earn up to PHP 250,000 per month and may receive a larger payday if the FiberXers qualify for the playoffs.

Present during the contract signing were Pampanga Vice Governor and current team head coach, Dennis “Delta” Pineda, team consultant Frank Lao, and de Liaño’s agent, Marvin Espiritu.

This move has been long overdue for de Liaño, who previously drew interest from several PBA franchises but chose to pursue an overseas career.

Despite the team’s struggles, he completed his contract before moving to Lithuania.

De Liaño made history as the first Filipino to play in Europe’s Lietuvos Krepsinio Lyga, signing a one-year deal with the BC Wolves.

After a season in Lithuania, he brought his talents to the Korean Basketball League and secured a contract with the Seoul SK Knights in June 2023.

De Liaño’s addition automatically boosted Converge’s chances of returning to the PBA post-season, having played in Japan, Korea, and Lithuania during the past years, which helped him evolve into the player that he is right now.

The crafty leftie guard will join a talented backcourt pool of Schonny Winston, Alec Stockton, Gelo Alolino, and Rey Suerte once he kicks off his first PBA season later this year.

Completing Converge’s promising roster this season are Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar, Kevin Racal, Paolo Javillonar, JL delos Santos, and King Caralipio.