Pessumal is also gunning for a personal achievement this Governors’ Cup.
Being able to don a Barangay Ginebra jersey is a dream for most aspiring PBA players.
For Von Pessumal, it seemed inevitable that he was going to wear a Ginebra when he became a pro.
On Instagram, the former Ateneo gunner posted some throwback pictures and videos of him wearing a Ginebra jersey back in 2005, when he took part in Jr. PBA, a summer tournament for youngsters hosted by Asia's first play-for-pay league.
Back then, Jr. PBA made its participants wear jerseys of current PBA players. There, Pessumal wore number 88, which belonged to former Gin King and now Blackwater Bossing assistant coach, Aris Dimaunahan.
It took a while before the 6-foot-2 guard joined Ginebra as he spent six seasons in the league with then GlobalPort Batang Pier and the San Miguel Beermen.
In September last year, Pessumal was traded to NorthPort for San Miguel’s 2024 and 2025 second round draft picks. The Batang Pier then sent Pessumal to Barangay Ginebra for Jeff Chan and Kent Salado.
And in just his first conference with Ginebra, Pessumal captured his fifth PBA title after the Gin Kings defeated the Bay Area Dragons in seven games for the Commissioner’s Cup crown.
That title was not the Ateneo alum's first this season, as he was also part of the San Miguel squad that won the Philippine Cup.
Given Pessumal’s success, his former teammate, SMB guard Chris Ross, branded him as a “lucky charm.”
While Ginebra is eyeing back-to-back titles, Pessumal has a chance of a rare individual grand slam this Governors’ Cup. The question is whether luck is still by his side this time around?