A NEW chapter for Von Pessumal begins after the five-time PBA champion signed with NorthPort for the coming 2025 PBA season.
Pessumal is excited with his new team where he appears to be getting a larger role this time unlike in his past teams where he mostly rode the bench.
“First of all, super thankful ako sa San Miguel [Corp]. They took care of me for my whole career. Even ‘till the last point, they helped me out. Thankful ako,” said Pessumal who played with San Miguel from 2017 to 2022, and Barangay Ginebra from 2022 to 2025.
READ: Joshua Munzon keeps eyes on goal amid NorthPort sale frenzy
“I’m excited sa new team na ‘to. New team, new opportunity for me. Siyempre, I’m getting older. I think it’s my 10th year. I’m just trying to enjoy every year. New team so siyempre, they are looking at me as a veteran player na,” said the former Ateneo player.
Pessumal docks with the Batang Pier once more, the same team that picked him during the Gilas special draft in 2016 when the squad was still named GlobalPort.
This time, Pessumal comes in with NorthPort set to be taken over by Pureblends Corporation following a sale of the franchise that is still waiting for approval from the PBA board of governors.
Pessumal likes his situation with NorthPort where the players are also out to prove themselves with the team under new management.
“I think all of the guys are really working hard everyday. Unang-una, these guys, we all have something to prove. Obviously, a lot of these guys are young guys trying to make a career out of themselves. We have some older guys like sila Calvin (Abueva), Josh (Munzon), still trying to prove that they are one of the best players in the PBA,” said Pessumal.
Pessumal only played for 21 out of the possible 71 games with Barangay Ginebra last season, averaging six minutes and 2.2 points per contest. That could change, based from his playing time during the past few tune-up games of the Batang Pier.
“I’m thankful sa coaches sa trust nila,” said the 32-year-old Pessumal. “I think at this point sa career ko, I still want to prove that I can play. Obviously, it’s hard to be in a good team like Ginebra and even sa San Miguel. Every year, they get new guys. Tapos, it’s harder and harder to see the court.”
“But now that this team is trying to make the playoffs, I can probably help them even leadership-wise, and veteran presence. Hopefully, sa court, matutulungan ko rin sila,” Pessumal added.
Even after leaving for NorthPort, Pessumal also said he will look back at his time with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel with fondness.
“Honestly, I had such a good time sa Ginebra. ‘Yung mga tao doon, friends ko for life ‘yung mga ‘yun. Even coaches, Boss Al, Coach Tim, they will be my friends for life. I have nothing but good things to say about them," he said.
“I’m so thankful na I got to play for Ginebra. If you ask anybody sa PBA, they want to play for Ginebra or San Miguel. I got to play for both. We will see what happens in the future. But right now, I’m focusing for this conference. Hopefully, we make the playoffs at least and we will get a chance to compete when it counts the most. Looking forward to everyday."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
