Ginebra found another way as it escaped Terrafirma, 114-106, in a tight PBA On Tour affair, Friday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Kings were staring at a four-point deficit approaching the game’s last three minutes until Von Pessumal hit a triple, kick-starting a 12-0 blitz to end the game and complete the rally for their third win in a row in the preseason.
“Three in a row, but hindi sana ganito. Gusto sana namin a low-scoring game kasi every time Terrafirma scores more than a hundred, most likely they win eh,” offered lead assistant coach Richard Del Rosario postgame.
“We got lucky tonight but we won’t be lucky next time. ‘Yun ang lesson learned from this game. Again, guys found a way to win,” he added.
Aljon Mariano led the character victory with 25 points and 11 rebounds as he maximized the extended minutes with Raymond Aguilar out hurt.
Sidney Onwubere shone once more with 20 points and five rebounds. Pessumal showed versatility again with 19 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
Donald Gumaru stood out as well with 16 points, including the triple to cap off the run to end the game. Jeremiah Gray also had 16 and added four rebounds and six assists, while Jayson David chipped in 11 for Ginebra (4-3).
“We were down big but the players just refused to give up,” Del Rosario said. “‘Yun ang maganda, nadedevelop na yung character ng team.”
Javi Gomez de Liano, on the other hand, had 23 points and 11 rebounds to lead Terrafirma, who lost its second in a row.
Gelo Alolino had 16 points, while the trio of Eric Camson, Isaac Go, and Ed Daquioag all finished with 13 markers apiece for the Dyip.
The Scores:
Ginebra 114 – Mariano 25, Onwubere 20, Pessumal 17, Gray 16, Gumaru 15, David 11, Dillinger 4, Pinto 3, Salcedo 2.
Terrafirma 106 – Gomez de Liano 23, Alolino 16, Camson 13, Go 13, Daquioag 13, Taladua 9, Calvo 9, Mina 6, Grospe 2, Alanes 2.
Quarterscores: 22-32, 60-59, 82-89, 114-106.
