THE PBA GAINS JUAN GOMEZ DE LIANO IN EXCHANGE OF ARVIN TOLENTINO?

Arvin Tolentino chose the Seoul Samsung Thunders over the NorthPort Batang Pier—and honestly, who can blame him? NorthPort went from being potential contenders to a shell of their former selves. It started with the trade of Will Navarro… then JM Calma… and before that, Zac Lucero. They also let Robert Bolick and Jamie Malonzo walk, and even before that, Bolick already left for a Far East team once, just like Tolentino now.

They didn’t even bother renewing Arwind Santos’ contract.

Oh, and Jerrick Balanza is back in Northport.

Yay.

It’s kind of funny how, not too long ago, NorthPort had a seasoned stat-stuffer in Arwind Santos mentoring a group of promising young stat-stuffers: Arvin Tolentino, JM Calma, Zac Lucero, and Cade Flores. Now? They only have Cade Flores left to show for it.

But enough about the Tolentino move. Arvin made a smart choice—joining the Seoul Samsung Thunders offers him at least two years of financial security. And when that stint ends, he can always return to the PBA armed with new experiences and insights from his overseas run.

This blog, however, is for the player who lost his spot because of Tolentino: Juan Gomez de Liaño.

So far, Juan GDL’s international career hasn’t panned out the way fans hoped. He went to Lithuania but barely saw the court. Then in Korea, he struggled to get meaningful minutes. Stat-wise, he’s even been outperformed by Avan Nava, NorthPort’s current guard. And that’s the thing—playing abroad only helps your stock if you actually play. Just look at how Carl Tamayo is thriving in the KBL.

With that in mind, maybe it’s time for Juan GDL to hit reset and declare for the 2025 PBA Draft.

Here’s the reality: years of playing under ten minutes per game have caused his stock to tumble. Yes, the PBA can be a springboard back to international leagues, but he needs to prove he still belongs at the top level. He turns 26 this year, and while he still has plenty of upside, expecting him to become a superstar right away might be a stretch.

Let’s go back to Avan Nava—and let’s also be real. Despite what some online trolls might say, the PBA is still the PBA. This is the league where imports are maximized, where many Asian imports have struggled, and where former NBA G-League talents like Stephen Holt and Sedrick Barefield aren’t automatically handed the keys to the kingdom.

As it stands, the biggest name in the upcoming draft is another UP Fighting Maroon, Quentin Millora-Brown, with veterans like Jason Brickman also likely to sneak into the late first round.

In some ways, it’s embarrassing for the PBA to lose a talent like Arvin Tolentino in the middle of the season. This sort of thing made sense during the pandemic era, but not now—teams can easily structure contracts to last until the end of a conference. These aren’t imports we’re talking about, after all.

That said, Tolentino’s move might actually open doors for others—guys like Mikey Williams or former PBA players currently competing in international leagues who might be eyeing a return.

Unfortunately, Juan Gomez de Liaño isn’t in that category just yet.

He still needs to enter the draft.

Still, teams like NLEX, Blackwater, Terrafirma, and even San Miguel could benefit from a young playmaker with Juan’s skill set—someone who can command attention if given the chance. But for now, that’s all wishful thinking. There’s still a chance he ends up with another Japan B.League or Korean KBL team. And if history repeats itself, it could mean landing on a hyped team… only to warm the bench again.

If Juan truly wants to regain his confidence and establish himself, the best move might be to enter the 2025 PBA Draft. From there, if he wants to pursue an import career again, he can do so with accolades and on-court achievements, just like what Arvin Tolentino is building for himself.