Juan Gomez de Liano’s ‘heartbreaker’

The crowd erupted in jubilation when Gomez de Liano knocked down a pull-up jumper in transition in the final 7.8 seconds to hand the Fighting Maroons the come-from-behind victory. #JuanGomezDeLianoTrey

JUAN Gomez de Liano nails the one shot that matters for the Fighting Maroons on Wednesday. (Contributed photo)

All it took was one big shot for Juan Gomez de Liano to lay all doubts to rest.

Gomez de Liano delivered the game-winning basket that lifted University of the Philippines (UP) past De La Salle University, 72-71, in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament late Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The crowd erupted in jubilation when Gomez de Liano knocked down a pull-up jumper in transition in the final 7.8 seconds to hand the Fighting Maroons the come-from-behind victory.

UP coach Bo Perasol said he wasn’t surprised with the decision-making displayed by his floor general.

“I didn’t have any doubt that he was going for the three-point shot,” Perasol said.

But before that heartbreaker of a shot, Gomez de Liano wasn’t in perfect form – physically and emotionally.

He was battling minor injuries, including back spasm, sprained left ankle and a right jumper’s knee that he sustained during the Fighting Maroons’ grueling preparation in the off-season.

Aside from that, he is also struggling to find his spot in the crowded UP rotation that already has Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero, two rising stars who are both effective with the ball on their hands.

With that, his numbers plunged to only 5.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in UP’s first five games in the first round of eliminations, raising doubts on his durability and ability to play with other stars.

“He’s not even 100 percent when he took that shot. I had to deal with him. I know he’s struggling with his recovery and the kind of game he’s playing,” Perasol said.

“You know, Juan is a player. He’s a winner. He’s always been a winner.”

Gomez de Liano said he definitely made the right call.

“I’m really glad I made the right decision. I made the extra sacrifice to play the last three minutes despite all the injuries I am going through right now,” he said.

But with the clock winding down and the game on the line, Gomez de Liano bravely took the opportunity to deliver the shot that would dictate the outcome of the game and cement his legacy as the alpha dog of UP basketball.

“I feel that I’m good for these kinds of moments,” said Gomez de Liano, who would go down in UP basketball history as the gunner who buried that Juan big shot.