MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings drew strength from the early exit of Jeremiah Gray to score a 91-85 win over NLEX Road Warriors to close the 2023 PBA on Tour on Sunday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Von Pessumal top-scored with 23 points, including six three-point conversions, to go with nine rebounds as Sidney Onwubere chipped in double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Gin Kings.
Donald Gumaru stepped up with 13 points, on 4-of-4 three-point shooting, while Raymund Aguilar contributed 11 markers as the Gin Kings ended their campaign with a 6-5 win-loss slate.
Casting a dark cloud on the Gin Kings’ come-from-behind victory was the knee injury suffered by Gray late in the third quarter, where the Filipino-American forward was seen grimacing in pain as he held to his knee.
The Gin Kings opened the fourth quarter with 7-0 scoring blast behind two-pointers by Aguilar, Jayson David and Nard John Pinto and a triple from Gumaru to establish a 76-71 advantage.
The Road Warriors attempted to come close at 75-78 but the Gin Kings came up with connections from Jose Espanola, Ralph Cu, Onwubere and Pessumal as the lead reached its biggest at 91-80.
Sean Anthony finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and five steals, Anthony Semerad added 24 markers, including six outside connections, while Celedonio Trollano ended with 12 as the Road Warriors finished with a 5-6 slate.
Meanwhile, Blackwater Bossing hacked out a lopsided 101-78 victory over TNT Tropang Giga. The Bossing finished the pre-season tournament with 7-4, while the Tropang Giga dropped to 1-10.
Jvee Casio top-scored for the Bossing with 18 points, Michael Digregorio added 15 markers, Jeth Troy Rosario, Renato Ular and Rashawn McCarthy had 11 each and Rey Suerte and Mike Ayonayon chipped in 10 apiece.
Glenn Khobuntin tallied 14 points but struggled on the field with 5-of-17 shooting, Frederick Tungcab added 13 markers, while Carl Bryan Cruz ended with 11 markers for the Tropang Giga.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 91 – Pessumal 23, Onwubere 16, Gumaru 13, R. Aguilar 11, Gray 8, David 8, Cu 8, Pinto 2, Espanola 2.
NLEX 85 – Anthony 26, Semerad 24, Trollano 12, Nieto 6, Paniamogan 5, Fajardo 4, Doliguez 2, Adamos 2, Alas 2, Pascual 2, Galanza 0, Giussani 0.
Quarterscores: 19-21, 41-45, 67-68, 91-85.
