Ginebra hands Rain or Shine its first loss in PBA On Tour Preseason

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña 

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel once again unleashed its never say die mantra after completing a come-from-behind victory to give the Rain or Shine Elastopainters its first loss, 108-107, in the ongoing PBA On Tour Preseason tournament last June 25, 2023, held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

It was almost an impossible mission for the Gin Kings after the Elastopainters led by six, 107-101, with only 1:45 remaining in the nip-and-tuck affair.

However, Ginebra erupted for a 7-0 offensive run to stun head coach Yeng Guiao and Rain or Shine and salvaged one of their most impressive victories heading into the regular season.

Jeremiah Gray kicked off Ginebra’s clutch scoring run after drilling a step-back three-pointer from the top of the key over the outstretched arms of Rain or Shine’s defender Nick Demusis.

As the Elastopainters figured in an untimely scoring drought, the Gin Kings then took advantage and got back-to-back cold-blooded deuces from Jayson David in the last 30 seconds of the game.

David trimmed Ginebra’s deficit to just a point after converting on a scoop layup then sank the most important basket after the Gin Kings ran a fast break off an Andrei Caracut missed jump shot.

Rain or Shine had one last chance to win the game and protect their undefeated streak but their alley-oop play off an inbound was read by the Gin Kings and was tapped out by Gray to the sidelines.

Von Pessumal, a renowned PBA three-point assassin who is starting to earn his confidence in the Preseason, top-scored Ginebra with 29 big points.

Gray also delivered a big-time performance for the Gin Kings and dropped 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists.

Meanwhile, the Elastopainters had 13 markers from Caracut but was not enough to sustain Rain or Shine’s firepower until the final stretch of the ball game.