Javi GDL go to surfaces reminiscences, what-ifs for Dyip core

Javi Gomez de Liaño (proper) was a part of a promising Terrafirma squad that dragged Jericho Cruz and San Miguel Beer to the gap in final season’s Philippine Cup quarterfinals. —PBA IMAGES

The current dominant win by San Miguel Beer over Barangay Ginebra—in what was anticipated to be an exciting conflict between title favorites within the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday—set the stage for a quick however significant reunion of former teammates who, only a 12 months in the past, helped make Terrafirma appear like a crew on the rise.

Javi Gomez de Liano’s go to to Good Araneta Coliseum ended up in a quick reunion with fellow former Terrafirma teammates Juami Tiongson, Stephen Holt, Isaac Go, and Drei Cahilig, after the Beermen cruised to a 104-93 victory.

“So he’s not gonna textual content that he’s gonna pull as much as the sport. That’s loopy,” Holt stated whereas Gomez de Liano was being interviewed on the hallway.

Gomez de Liano is again residence after finishing a season with Anyang within the Korean Basketball League, and he had, actually, a front-row view as Tiongson, Cahilig and San Miguel dominated Ginebra, which fielded Holt however continued protecting Go on the sidelines whereas he recovers from an harm.

“We actually had some good reminiscences at Terrafirma,” Gomez de Liano stated.

At this level final season, the Terrafirma core was defying the chances because the often floundering aspect pulled off an unlikely quarterfinals berth—solely the crew’s second in franchise historical past—after getting the eighth and remaining seed within the 2024 Philippine Cup.

Tiongson emerged as an All-Star and the Dyip’s unquestioned chief underneath coach Johnedel Cardel, Holt impressed in his rookie season as a two-way participant, Gomez de Liano was a extremely efficient wing, Go confirmed indicators of a strong massive man, whereas Cahilig carried out his common blue-collar work.

Terrafirma even gave San Miguel, the highest crew after the eliminations after nearly finishing an 11-game sweep, a scare when it compelled a do-or-die scenario within the quarterfinals earlier than the Beermen confirmed their true mettle and eradicated the Dyip.

Sadly, the core broke up within the offseason as Gomez de Liano took his abilities to South Korea earlier than Holt and Go, plus Terrafirma’s third choose within the Draft, had been dealt to Ginebra. Tiongson and Cahilig finally had been despatched to San Miguel after the Governors’ Cup.

Gomez de Liano politely interrupted the media scrum and joined his fellow Terrafirma alums in a gaggle picture that fetched reminiscences of that 2024 run and likewise dredged up what-ifs.

Might the core have developed into one thing extra particular for the Dyip?

There shall be no concrete solutions to that query now.

And neither shall be for the present crop of Dyip standouts.

Terrafirma is getting ready to exit at the same time as its future nonetheless hangs within the steadiness after the preliminary deal to promote the franchise to Starhorse didn’t materialize over monetary points.

Three firms, nonetheless, have knowledgeable the league of their curiosity to accumulate the crew.

“I felt unhappy, however I hope that it’s for the betterment of the crew and that the following purchaser will help make the crew higher,” stated Gomez de Liano.

The 5 chatted for a short time earlier than going their separate methods, prefer it was Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Conner in that epic scene to shut out the seventh installment of the “Quick and Livid” franchise.