Ginebra’s Jeremiah Gray delivers for the Gin Kings in the latest win. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Jeremiah Gray served as Ginebra’s savior in the victory that ended NLEX’s unbeaten start in the PBA Governors’ Cup tournament at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
Tim Cone heaped praises at Gray, who scored 19 points, including a clutch triple in the dying second that gave the Gin Kings a 112-111 lead with 19 seconds remaining.
“Miah is gonna have a coming-out party for this conference. Last game I thought he was brilliant but tonight, even more. He’s starting to show what he can do,” said Cone after the thrilling 114-111 win.
“He was the guy in the last two minutes who went out and guarded the import (Selden). He’s just showing the things he can do.”
Gray shot an efficient 50 percent from the field, sinking seven of his 14 attempts including five triples.
But Gray also picked up Selden on the defensive end, leaving the import with only three markers in the last five minutes of the game.
Cone said his hot-shooting rookie guard reminded him of PBA legend and three-point gunner, Kenneth Duremdes.
“He’s hitting his shots, beautiful pull-ups. It reminds me so much of Kenneth Duremdes with the type of silky smooth pull-up that he has. He has the ability to shoot deep and he can damage you around the rim,” he said.
Gray, like Duremdes, plays the guard position and has a similar catch-and-shoot playing style.
Cone, however, admitted that Gray has had difficulties getting his rhythm back due to the ACL injury he suffered in 2021.
The Commissioners’ Cup, however, served as Gray’s road back to confidence in his basketball abilities.
“He was coming off a long ACL injury, over a year. Usually, even from the time you come back it takes you more months to really be comfortable after that injury, get your game and confidence back. That last conference gave him that opportunity to slowly come back,” Cone explained.
The 6-foot-5 shooter only played a minimal role for the past conference champions with 4.5 points and 2.4 rebounds a night.
Currently, though, Gray is posting norms of 13 markers, 5.5 boards and 3.5 dimes per ballgame.
After snapping the Road Warriors’ four-game winning streak, Ginebra will take on Northport at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.