Jonathan Grey just had his own defining moment on Tuesday, in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
The sophomore guard knocked down a huge triple with 11 ticks left to play, and that served as the game-winner that gave the GlobalPort Batang Pier a 114-113 victory over the top-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
That shot hadn’t been in the original plan drawn up in the timeout prior. But the opportunity presented itself, and Grey took full advantage.
“Before nun pinasa ko kay Sean [Anthony], nag-step siya outside. Sabi ko the next na makuha ko yung bola, ako na lang, titira ko na,” the 26-year-old quipped.
“Bahala na. ‘Pag sablay, sablay. Panget. Pero pag na-shoot, pogi. Ayun.”
“Kinick ni Malcolm [White]. Nalibre. Tinira,” recalled Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio.
In the win that blew the Elasto Painters’ win-once incentive and forced a do-or-die match this Thursday, Grey finished with a third career-best 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field along with three rebounds and two assists.
For Grey, his performance was just his response to the request made by Jarencio.
“Sabi niya sa akin bago magstart parang, ‘Jo, pakitaan mo naman ako. Bigay mo naman sa akin to,’ so yung coach mo, kinakausap ka ng ganun, parang iba na. Magiging confident ka talaga na, tangina, maglalaro ka ng maganda,” Grey said.
“Binibigay niya sa’yo yung tiwala e. Ibang klase.”
“Sabi ko naman sa kanya, ‘laruan mo naman ako. Bigyan mo ‘ko ng depensa, bigyan mo ‘ko ng score. ‘Sige coach.’ sabi niya. Kaya yung playing time andon, at the same time nag-deliver,” Jarencio lauded of his scoring guard.
This was an excellent showing by the St. Benilde product, knowing that he has been in and out of Jarencio’s rotation. But after proving that he can be a closer, Jarencio vowed that Grey will now be a key part of their depth chart.
“For sure priority na siya sa rotation.”
