Ginebra gunner became the first PBA player in 26 years to win back-to-back titles with two different teams

VON Pessumal became the first player in 26 years to win back-to-back PBA crowns in one season with two different teams.

Pessumal captured his first-ever championship with Barangay Ginebra when the ballclub captured the Commissioner’s Cup title on Sunday, four months after he claimed the Philippine Cup crown when he was still playing for San Miguel.

The last time such a feat was done, according to PBA statistics head Fidel Mangonon, was way back in 1997 when Cris Bolado was part of the Purefoods team that took the All-Filipino Conference, then captured the Commissioner’s Cup crown for Gordon’s Gin at the expense of Alaska.

Bolado did it twice actually. He was also a member of the Alaska squad that wrapped up the grand slam by capturing the Governors’ Cup championship in 1996, coached by current Ginebra mentor Tim Cone.

“Sobrang thankful ako and blessed to be part ng San Miguel Corporation,” said Pessumal. “Inaalagaan talaga ang mga players. Thankful ako kay Boss Al [Chua], Boss RSA [Ramon S. Ang], coach Tim sa tiwala sa akin. Hopefully, more championships to come.”

Pessumal only played in the first two games of the championship series against the Dragons for a grand total of two minutes and 15 seconds. He averaged 1.1 points in 14 games during the conference.

But the fact remains that Pessumal is a member of the Ginebra championship team of the Commissioner’s Cup. Pessumal has now won his fifth championship in the PBA, but his first for a different team after he was sent to Ginebra during the offseason as part of the trade that sent Jeff Chan and Prince Caperal to NorthPort, and future draft picks to both San Miguel and NorthPort.

His recent success has even branded him as a “lucky charm” by Pessumal’s former teammate Chris Ross on Twitter.

He may be at the end of the bench but the 29-year-old Pessumal still had a role to play in this championship title with Barangay Ginebra, especially in practice. But Pessumal said he has always been prepared for any eventuality that he would be used by head coach Tim Cone.

Photo by: Jerome Ascano

“Sa practice, lagi kong pinu-push ‘yung mga starters para pagdating sa game, ready sila. Ready ako sa mga opportunities na ibibigay nila sa akin. Hindi ako masyadong naglalaro, but eventually, if something happens, I’ll be ready to play,” said Pessumal.

“Marami rin akong natutunan sa mga teammates ko and the coaches. Ang taas ng level ng basketball dito,” said Pessumal.

With the championship in the Commissioner’s Cup, Pessumal is on pace for a personal grand slam, and the chance of doing so is great since Barangay Ginebra is the hands-on favorite to win the Governors’ Cup title.

Incidentally, the last time a player had an opportunity to go for a personal grand slam was the recent Finals MVP Christian Standhardinger when he played in the semifinals for NorthPort in the 2019 Governors’ Cup after capturing two titles with San Miguel in the previous conferences.

Standhardinger’s bid, however, ended when the Batang Pier were eliminated by eventual champion Barangay Ginebra, now his current team.

Pessumal and Standhardinger were also former teammates at SMB and were part of that 2019 team that captured the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup.

The former Ateneo star said the personal achievement is very far from his mind.

“Honestly, sobrang thankful na ako na nanalo ako last conference sa San Miguel. Nanalo pa ako this conference,” said Pessumal.

“Bahala na next conference kung anong mangyari. Basta ako, always ready, always dressed to be part of this team,” said Pessumal.