Entering their second game of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, the San Miguel Beermen were already missing two pieces.
Alex Cabagnot sat out the game because of a sore hamstring, while Terrence Romeo missed the game due to a left ankle sprain he sustained last Friday.
But next man up as they say.
And so when San Miguel took on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Von Pessumal got plugged into the starting five.
“Lagi naman siyang kasama sa rotation namin. It happens na ang ka-rotation niya ay sila Terrence Romeo at Alex Cabagnot,” shared San Miguel head coach Leo Austria.
The 6-foot-2 sniper out of Ateneo made sure to not waste this opportunity, firing 13 points spiked by three triples. Moreover, he made the pivotal play with 1:02 left.
With Ginebra creeping in – cutting the lead down to just five – Pessumal found Marcio Lassiter for a booming triple that stopped the Barangay in their tracks.
For Pessumal, this was an opportunity he had been waiting for since being traded to San Miguel back in July 2017.
“I just stay ready to play every game. Thankful ako kay coach Leo, laki ng tiwala niya sakin for putting me in the starting five. So it means a lot to me,” expressed Pessumal, a former Gilas cadet.
“I have to repay him also.”
After this showing, Austria now knows that he has another reliable weapon in his already-potent arsenal. And all Pessumal needed was the opportunity to be able to prove himself.
“I commended Von for stepping up talaga. And then I know from the start na meron talaga siya eh,” said Austria.
“It’s a blessing in disguise, what happened.”
