Winning more important for record-setting Beermen shooter Von Pessumal

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO CITY—Von Pessumal had himself a historic night Saturday at Ynares Center here when he broke the PBA’s record for the best shooting performance from beyond the arc.

Pessumal finished with 24 points going 8-of-8 from the three-point area, setting the record for most threes in a game without a single miss. His achievement, however, became an afterthought following San Miguel’s 110-97 loss to TNT, 110-97, in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

The former Ateneo star, though, would rather want his team win than him gaining a personal achievement in a loss.

“I hate to repeat myself but I’d rather get the win and score zero,” said Pessumal, who broke the previous mark set by Mike Tolomia, who went 6-of-6, on Sept. 15, 2017. “Sometimes I just come to the game and have the mindset to play the right way, and if I’m open I’ll shoot it.”

“Actually, I didn’t even know that I didn’t miss. When I play, and I miss, I really don’t think about it. I was surprised with what I did when I saw the box score, I think I was lucky today,” added Pessumal in Filipino.

The rest of the Beermen, though, weren’t as lucky as Pessumal as they collectively shot the ball 8-of 26 from beyond the arc.

This paltry shooting from the rest of the bunch prevented them from breaking into the KaTropa’s fortress that was established as early as the first quarter when they put up a 30-10 wall against the Beermen.

San Miguel tried to fight back late in the game cutting the deficit to as low as eight, 105-97, after Marcio Lassiter’s runner with 2:38 left to play.

“I’m proud of my team, my teammates, because we were down big and we didn’t give up until the very last possession,” said Pessumal. “The fact that we didn’t give up, they [the KaTropa] were making three-pointers but we’re still playing and that says a lot about this team.”