WATCH: Interview with Best Player Sidney Onwubere [Brgy. Ginebra vs Blackwater | June 21, 2023]

In the PBA On Tour on Wednesday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City, Sidney Onwubere finished what he started, allowing Brgy. Ginebra to pull out an 81-80 overtime thriller victory over Blackwater.

The Bossing were unable to come up with the winning play, thus Onwubere’s credited putback following a miss by Nards Pinto proved to be the game-changing basket. It gave the Gin Kings the one-point lead that held up to the end.

Blackwater’s collapse was highlighted by Tyrus Hill’s missed free throws in the waning seconds, and Onwubere’s 25-point, 11-rebound performance—which began with his 19 first-half points—was maintained. The game was sponsored by Bingo Plus and presented by Arena Plus.

When numerous Ginebra veterans like Christian Standhardinger, Japeth Aguilar, and Stanley Pringle were out, the 29-year-old Fil-Nigerian just seized the chance to showcase his talents.

“We feel really blessed, na mabigyan ng pagkakataon to play. Kasi this is our chance na makapagpakita and of course para mahasa din ‘yung talent namin,” said Onwubere.

“Ang sinasabi lang sa amin ni coach Richard (del Rosario), dapat i-take namin itong opportunity na ito. Huwag naming tingnan na wala ‘yung veterans namin, na ito ‘yung pagkakataon namin. So he’s really pushing us to have confidence,” he added.

Jeremiah Gray, who finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals, was another Gin King who grasped the opportunity and assisted them in improving their record to 2-3.