Von Pessumal made history Saturday night when San Miguel faced TNT in 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup action.
The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter shot all eight of his three-pointers en route to a career-high 24 points, which is now a new PBA all-time record for most threes in a game without a miss, as per the league’s stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
“Actually, I didn’t even know that I didn’t miss.
“When I play kasi, ‘pag nagmimiss ako, hindi ko na inisiip eh. Nagugulat ako minsan yun pala yung ginawa ko sa box score. Swerte ako today,” said Pessumal, whose previous career-high was 23.
“I hate to repeat myself but I’d rather get the win and score zero.
“But that’s how it is,” said Pessumal, who also collected three rebounds and a steal in the 30 minutes and 38 seconds he was utilized by head coach Leo Austria.
But as disappointing as the loss had been, the former Gilas Pilipinas Cadet is still proud of how SMB fought.
The Beermen never had a chance to take a lead as the KaTropa jumped out of the gates en route to a 30-10 start, and even led by as many as 24. But they rallied in the final frame and knocked within eight, 97-105, 2:34 remaining in the game.
That, until Tony Semerad nailed a triple and Terrence Jones made a slam dunk afterward that killed their run.
“I’m proud of my team, my teammates, because we were down big and we didn’t give up until the very last possession. For me yun yung pinaka-important na nakuha sa game na ‘to kasi I always try to look at the positives of a game.
“The fact that we didn’t give up — they were making three-pointers but kami we’re still playing — that says a lot about this team. I think may momentum kami towards next game,” said the third-year pro out of Ateneo de Manila.
Aside from being proud, Pessumal isn’t losing hope that the Beermen can get out of this funk, citing their run in the same conference last season where they started with three straight losses but still went all the way to the title match.
“These guys are champions, ako bago lang ako dito eh, I’m learning from them. They know how to turn this thing around. And if I recall, we also started bad last year, same conference. So there’s still hope,” Pessumal said.
“We still have nine more games. If we win most of our games, I think we’re still in. So always look at the positives.”
