Jayson David was the unlikely hero as Ginebra stunned Rain or Shine, 108-107, in the PBA On Tour Sunday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The young winger scored the Kings’ last four points, none bigger than the go-ahead bucket with 2.1 seconds left as the crowd darlings came from behind and dealt the Elasto Painters their first loss of the preseason tournament.
David finished with six points as his heroics enabled his side to eke out another nail-biting win like what they did against Blackwater last Wednesday.
“Jayson David was struggling the whole game, but he did big in the endgame,” lauded lead assistant coach Richard del Rosario.
Thanks to David’s endgame guts, Von Pessumal’s big game was preserved. The seasoned marksman led the way with a game-high 29 points.
Jeremiah Gray delivered 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists as his all-around effort helped Ginebra get back into the game after staring at a 107-101 deficit — plus Nards Pinto cramping up — with 1:49 remaining.
The incoming sophomore sliced the six-point deficit into half following a triple off a pullback to ward off the defense. Moments later, he’d grab the rebound and dish the dime to a streaking David for the eventual game-winner.
Pinto left the game with 14 points and eight assists while Aljon Mariano provided 13 markers and 12 boards in their second straight win to improve to 3-3.
Nick Demusis and Gian Mamuyac, meanwhile, had 16 points apiece to lead Rain or Shine in the loss, where they lost a lead as big as 10.
Demusis was the main option in a set drawn up in an attempt to regain the lead but the inbound lob to him was read by Gray, who then deflected the pass. He tried to save his side one last time but his jumper missed as time expired.
Andrei Caracut made 13 points, while Rey Nambatac and Santi Santillan chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Elasto Painters.
The Scores:
Ginebra 108 – Pessumal 29, Gray 19, Pinto 14, Mariano 13, R.Aguilar 9, Salcedo 8, Onwubere 7, David 6, Dillinger 3, Gumaru 0, Aurin 0.
Rain or Shine 107 – Demusis 16, Mamuyac 16, Caracut 13, Nambatac 12, Santillan 11, Belga 10, Asistio 8, Borboran 8, Belo 5, Clarito 4, Ildefonso 4.
Quartercores: 25-22, 47-46, 79-84, 108-107.
