After a superb Terrafirma season, Javi Gomez de Liano has decided to take his talents abroad.
Brother Juan Gomez de Liano is currently playing for the Seoul SK Knights and there is a possibility that Javi is going to end up with the Anyang KGC Red Boosters after Rhenz Abando’s departure.
At least this is a good thing.
JAVI GOMEZ DE LIANO STATS
2021-22 | IBARAKI ROBOTS | 35 GAMES - 3.1PPG - 1.1RPG - 0.4APG
2022-23 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP | 33 GAMES - 6.0PPG - 2.9RPG - 1.2APG - 0.4SPG
2023-24 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP | 25 GAMES - 16.4PPG - 5.7RPG - 2.2APG - 1.3SPG - 0.6BPG
For the Philippines, this is another great step that our players are the best imports, at least in the Southeast and Far Eastern parts of Asia. The language barriers have been reduced because of globalization and homesickness is somewhat countered by the advanced line of technology and communication.
And again, our talents are sending our players to Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
How can that be bad?
For the players, it’s a chance for them to find other basketball planets to check out. Again, we have to address the current way the players transition from the college leagues to the pros. Kai Sotto is now a three-year pro because took his talents stateside. Now, he is a 22-year-old international games veteran. I guess the MPBL is a great way for college players to assess their skills, but if they are still playing in either the NCAA or the UAAP, they would either waive their fourth year to turn pro or ditch college altogether to try their luck in the international leagues.
Look, I am not saying that education is not important, but seeing how there are 27-year-old rookies in the PBA because they transferred from one or two schools in the span of their eligibility is just insane.
And for the PBA, this is a good thing because the way Javi expressed his desire to explore more options elsewhere makes the league the perfect safe spot. A couple of years ago, the best players are traded to the big-budget teams because they are either too financially unstable to be competitive or the players do not want to be part of a rebuilding system. Matthew Wright is doing well in the Japan B-League, as with Kiefer Ravena. Robert Bolick had a not-so-good experience and after parting with the Fukushima Firebonds, he successfully returned to the PBA.
Sure, NLEX is no different from his time with Northport, but at least he knows that he can return to the PBA if and when he gets that itch to look for other opportunities.
The PBA is like the Euroleague, or a local top league like the Liga ACB, Greek Basket League, and even the Chinese Basketball Association to the NBA. Just because Luka Doncic left Real Madrid for the Dallas Mavericks, doesn’t mean the team is bad. And while yeah, the PBA is far from the NBA as compared to most leagues, there is a reason why the country’s talents are raided, and not the other way around.
Remember Sanchir Tungalag?
My thoughts exactly.
And for Terrafirma, at least they didn’t lose their player in a bad light. While losing Christian Standhardinger and CJ Perez to the SMC teams was bad, it sucks MORE that they never got anything back from drafting Roosevelt Adams and Jordan Heading. Terrafirma would have had an Ateneo lineup if they just took Will Navarro after acquiring Isaac Go if they didn’t take Heading.
As for Adams, it’s not like his PBA stint was an amazing experience as Adams played out of position and without any help.
I think Adams is more like Mikey Williams in the sense that he’s better off living the "import" lifestyle than staying in one team. I think Williams is more of an import than a local player. It’s TNT’s fault to select a veteran world warrior rather than an up-and-comer. Williams was about to turn 29 when the TNT drafted him. Yes, Williams had a good run in his brief stint, but expect Santi Santillan and even second-rounders like Alec Stockton and Andrei Caracut to get more total points.
It sucks that we lost Javi Gomez de Liano to the Korean Basketball League because he was one of the reasons why Terrafirma had a Cinderella run. Hopefully, Terrafirma kept his rights. I strongly disagree with all the pundits who think the PBA is a trash league because the talent is leaving. They are going to the other leagues to seek better opportunities, and if only the PBA makes better decisions on their games, format, and venues, then it’s going to be better eventually.
Anyway, Terrafirma needs to keep their team intact. Stephen Holt is their most important piece, but Juami Tiongson is their most important player because of the passion he brings to the team. Isaac Go, Louie Sangalang, and Kemark Carino are expected to pick up the slack and at number three, they must find a way to get a more offensive-minded force in the 2024 PBA Draft.