Juan Gomez de Liaño receives his PBA D-League MVP award. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—After willing Marinerong Pilipino to the PBA D-League Aspirant’s Cup finals, Juan Gomez de Liaño was awarded the league’s Most Valuable Player plum at Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
The news was made official before game two of the series, where de Liaño against showed off his all-around game to the tune of 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Skippers, however, lost a chance to close out La Salle absorbing a 70-63 loss.
De Liaño Game 2 outing was close to his award-clinching averages of 18.4 points per game, 6.3 assists per game and 8.4 rebounds per game.
The former B. League asset overtook teammate Jollo Go, EcoOil-La Salle’s Mike Phillips and CJ Austria, Adalem-St. Clare’s Johnsherick Estrada and John Rojas and Apex-San Sebastian’s Romel Calahat and James Una for the MVP honors.
Despite gaining another hardware, however, the former Fighting Maroon has one goal in mind—giving Marinerong Pilipino a championship.
“Marinero has never won a championship, so that’s my ultimate focus: giving them one and making history with them,” De Liaño said.
The Skippers will have to wait for six more days before facing the Green Archers in the deciding game for the title.