Barangay Ginebra reclaimed the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup championship after defeating TNT Tropang 5G, 88-76, in the winner-takes-all Game 7 on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Ginebra regains PBA kingship
The victory delivered Ginebra its 16th league championship and its first title since capturing the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup crown against the Bay Area Dragons, a series which also went the seven-game distance.
The Gin Kings were pushed to a decisive Game 7 after TNT stayed alive with a 98-90 victory in Game 6.
However, Ginebra rose to the occasion in the finale, using timely shooting and solid defense to secure the championship.
Ginebra entered the playoffs as the No. 2 seed after posting a 9-3 record in the elimination round.
The team advanced to the Finals by eliminating Phoenix Super LPG in the quarterfinals and Rain or Shine in the semifinals.
Nerve-wracking fourth quarter
The Tropang 5G threatened to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter, but Ginebra answered with crucial baskets from beyond the arc.
Nardz Pinto and RJ Abarrientos knocked down key three-pointers that halted TNT’s momentum.
Abarrientos delivered perhaps the biggest shot of the night, burying a triple that stretched Ginebra’s advantage to 83-76 with under two minutes remaining.
Justin Brownlee added to the cushion by splitting a pair of free throws before Scottie Thompson capped the victory with a quick layup, effectively sealing the championship for the Gin Kings.
Historic title for Gin Kings
The title marked another milestone for head coach Tim Cone, who captured his 26th PBA championship to further extend his record as the league’s most successful coach.
Brownlee also won his seventh PBA title, alongside his fourth Best Player of the Conference citation.
In his post-game speech, Cone remarked that the title is a legacy achievement for Brownlee as he emerged as the best import in a tall-laden conference.
Meanwhile, Thompson was awarded with the Finals MVP of the series, his third award of the same kind in his career.
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Wendellyn Mateo 
Carmela Calling