- Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings takes a pivotal 3-2 lead vs TNT to move within a win away of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup championship.
- In what has been a highly-contested best-of-seven Finals showdown, Ginebra is the first team is string up back-to-back wins.
- Ginebra can wrap up the championship on Wednesday in Game 6.
PBA Finals: Not even a hurt thumb can slow Justin Brownlee down
Barangay Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee against TNT Tropang Giga’s RR Pogoy during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Justin Brownlee stared at the face of looming pain, but put it aside to push Ginebra one step closer to winning the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Behind another gargantuan effort from import Brownlee despite playing with a hurt thumb, the Gin Kings defeated the Tropang Giga, 73-66, in Game 5 to move on the cusp of the crown.
At one point in the neck-and-neck affair, Brownlee fell to the floor, hand-first, after a collision with Roger Pogoy.
PBA Finals: ‘Fed up’ Chot Reyes tells off Poy Erram for his antics
TNT coach Chot Reyes during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—TNT big man Poy Erram, once again, made a scene during the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
In TNT’s 73-66 loss to Ginebra in Game 5 at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, Erram was seen throwing a fit during a timeout in the second half.
The more surprising part? He was in a verbal spat with no less than his head coach Chot Reyes.
PBA Finals: Desire to push Ginebra closer to title fuels Scottie
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompsons during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT Tropang Giga. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Fueled by pure inspiration to win, Scottie Thompson took over when Ginebra needed it most during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against TNT.
Thompson had his fingerprints all over the pivotal win in another heroic outing that pushed the Gin Kings to a 3-2 lead over the Tropang Giga–just a victory away from the championship.
“I’m just really inspired to win this championship,” said an exhausted Thompson after their 73-66 win at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night. “We all know it’s a grind-it-out game, possession by possession and we just didn’t want to quit.”
VIDEO: TNT coach Chot Reyes on incident vs Poy Erram in Game 5
PBA Finals: Ginebra grinds out Game 5 win vs TNT, nears title
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompsons shoots over TNT Tropang Giga defenders during Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES
Barangay Ginebra pounced on TNT’s frosty stretch down the crunch, hitting one tough shot after another to take a pivotal 73-66 Game 5 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday night.
Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee delivered the Gin Kings’ final 12 points as the rest of the squad clamped down on the Tropang Giga at Smart Araneta Coliseum, pushing the proud franchise within sniffing range of a 16th championship.
“Honestly, we think we all knew from our side that Justin was struggling with his hand a bit more today than the last game and so everybody had to step up,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone on the heels of the tiebreaker fashioned before 12,447 screaming souls.
PBA Finals Live Updates: Ginebra vs TNT Game 5 (March 23)
FOURTH QUARTER
- FINAL: Ginebra moves one win away from winning the Commissioner’s Cup following a 73-66 win vs TNT in Game 5 of the #PBAFinals.
- All last-ditch attempts from RHJ, Khobuntin and Pogoy misfires! Ginebra holds on to the ball and milks the clock with 10 seconds left.
- It’s Brownlee time for Ginebra! He pounces on the mismatch vs Pogoy with another float. Ginebra leads 73-66. 50.9 to play.
- RHJ, who has struggling from the field all night and practically shut down in the second half, couldn’t secure the jump for TNT. Ginebra with the possession. 1 minute to play.
- TNT, trailing 66-61, still couldn’t hit its shots here down the stretch with just over a minute left to play.
- Justin Brownlee with a floater to give Ginebra a 71-66 lead, the Gin Kings’ biggest of the game, with 2:21 to play.
- TNT bungles several and crucial good looks in failed attempt to regain the momentum. Scottie Thompson there to pick up the rebound for Ginebra.
12,447 fans inside the Big Dome #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports https://t.co/3WYw4zfaMe
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) March 23, 2025
- Scottie Thompson taking over for Ginebra! He scores off another one-on-one to give Ginebra 69-66 lead with 3:16 to play.
Coach Tim Cone is demanding and pleading a challenge for Scottie Thompson’s foul on Rey Nambatac.
Gin leads TNT, 65-64, with 4:25 to go. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tWXdRqMYCJ
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) March 23, 2025
- Coach Tim Cone is livid here as he asks for a coach’s challenge, which was not granted due to the timeout. Ginebra still with a one point lead.
- Scottie Thompson finishes his spin move with a lefty layup! Ginebra leads TNT, 65-54 with under 6 minutes left to play.
- Final quarter on going! TNT regains the lead, 58-57, after 2 freethrows from Rondae Hollis Jefferson.
THIRD QUARTER
- END OF THIRD: Ginebra 57-56 TNT.
- LA Tenorio suits up here for Ginebra! He gives Scottie a quick break.
- Justin Brownlee gives Ginebra its first lead of the game, 53-51. 1:57.
- Jamie Malonzo ties the game anew for Ginebra at 51. 3:42.
- Kim Aurin stops the bleeding for TNT, which regains the lead 49-47.
- Ginebra clamping down on TNT on defense while mounting a 10-0 run, capped by a basket from Justin Brownlee. Tied game at 47! 6:03.
Tension at the TNT bench during that timeout involving Chot Reyes and Poy Erram
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) March 23, 2025
- Justin Brownlee scores from downlow. Japeth Aguilar left all alone from the slam! Ginebra trims TNT lead to 47-43. 7:30.
- Third quarter underway. TNT still in the lead by double digits, 47-37, with under 9 minutes in the period.
Rey Nambatac leads TNT to a 45-35 halftime lead over Barangay Ginebra in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. Justin Brownlee with just two points in the first half #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) March 23, 2025
TNT in control at the break with Ginebra plenty to ponder inside the dressing room #PBAFinals. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/STWgmiEv4E
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 23, 2025
SECOND QUARTER
- END OF SECOND: TNT 45-35 Ginebra.
- Solid first half closing for TNT. Nambatac steals the leather and Kim Aurin finishes on transition off a bounce pass from Kelly Williams.
- Justin Brownlee scores his first two points of the game with 47 seconds left before halftime. TNT 41-35 Ginebra.
- After that exchange, TNT still holding on to a 39-33 lead.
- RHJ called for a regular foul. Erram called for a technical for second motion. 2:00.
Japeth Aguilar shaken up after a layup attempt. Medical brings him towel, possibly from bleeding nose.
RHJ gets whistled for shooting foul but Erram whistled for second motion. Official suspension of play. TNT leads, 39-32, with 2:00 to go in first half. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/umFuOgd3nO
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) March 23, 2025
- Japeth Aguilar holds on to his nose after contact with Poy Erram following his undergoal stab attempt.
- Maverick Ahanmisi and Ray Nambatac trade triples. TNT 37-Ginebra 32. 3:25.
- Jamie Malonzo finally gets one to drop from the perimeter. Ginebra still trails 30-29.
- Raining 3s from both sides. TNT with 5, Ginebra with 4.
- Maverick Ahanmisi with a 3 coming off the bench. Ginebra now down by one.
Ginebra rallies!
Gin Kings cut the deficit to two with a 7-2 run to start the second frame, 26-24, with 10:18 to play in the first half. @INQUIRERSports #PBAFinals
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) March 23, 2025
- Ginebra starts the second quarter blazing with a 7-2 run. TNT 26-24 Ginebra.
- Scottie Thompson with a wide open 3! Ginebra catching up, just down by four, 26-22, over 10 minutes in the second.
- RJ Abarrientos opens the second quarter with a wild 2-pointer for Ginebra. TNT 24-19 Ginebra.
TNT with a 24-17 lead over Barangay Ginebra at the end of the first quarter. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Rey Nambatac, RR Pogoy and Calvin Oftana leading the way for the Tropang Giga as Justin Brownlee is scoreless for the Gin Kings #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) March 23, 2025
FIRST QUARTER
- END OF FIRST: TNT 24-17 Ginebra.
- RHJ with a slam! TNT opens its biggest lead so far vs Ginebra, 22-13.
- TNT hits its fifth triple in the opening quarter alone, this time from Oftana. TNT 20-13 Ginebra.
- Brownlee finds an open Holt in the middle. TNT 17-13 Ginebra.
- Rey Nambatac, the hero of TNT’s Game 3 win, knocks down his first 3 from the corner. TNT 17-10 Ginebra. 4:17.
- Back to back jumpers from Japeth keeps Ginebra close. TNT 12-9 Ginebra.
- It’s Calvin Oftana’s turn to make a 3! TNT 12-5 Ginebra. 7:32.
- Roger Pogoy scores his second 3 of the game. TNT 9-5 Ginebra.
- 5-0 counter for Ginebra after a basket from Japeth Aguilar. TNT 6-5 Ginebra.
- Scottie Thompson opens the offense for Ginebra with a left corner 3. TNT 6-3 Ginebra. 10:37.
- Rogoy Pogoy from the left wing! 6-0 start for TNT.
- Quick basket for RHJ, a 3-point play, 13 seconds into the game. TNT 2-0 Ginebra.
- PBA Finals Game 5 starters for Ginebra– Japeth Aguilar, Troy Rosario, Justin Brownlee, Stephen Holt, and Scottie Thompson–and TNT–Calvin Oftana, Bryan Heruela, Poy Erram, Roger Pogoy, and Rondae Hollis Jefferson.
WATCH: Ginebra and TNT players take the floor for warmups. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/3dmBsAI5vJ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 23, 2025
Calm before the storm. Game 5 tips off at 7:30 p.m. #PBAFinals @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Exia2uJ14O
— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) March 23, 2025
Less than an hour to go before tipoff and the Araneta Coliseum is slowly being filled with fans eager to watch Game 5 of the #PBAFinals between Ginebra and TNT.
Both squads look to notch the pivotal 3-2 lead. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/aYqSH7Goob
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 23, 2025
#PBASeason49 Commissioner's Cup best-of-7 #PBAFinals game 5 – March 23 – SUNDAY schedule at @TheBigDome brought to us by @PocariSweatPH
7:30 PM TNT Tropang Giga vs. BARANGAY GINEBRA San Miguel#PBAAngatAngLaban pic.twitter.com/mTr2qqt99P
— PBA (@pbaconnect) March 21, 2025
PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT schedule
Game 5, March 23, Sunday – Smart Araneta Coliseum
- 7:30pm – TNT Tropang Giga vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings
FULL PBA FINALS SCHEDULE HERE.
PBA Finals: Brownlee encore could dictate tiebreaker vs TNT
Justin Brownlee’s encore after his heroic performance two nights ago will likely dictate how Sunday’s pivotal Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals will go.
Brownlee is expected to push through pain and lead Ginebra’s bid to repeat over TNT and take the all-important 3-2 lead at 7:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum, after a dislocated right thumb that initially raised concerns about his status for the Finals.
But it will take more than a reprise of his 23-point effort in Friday’s 95-78 win to push the Kings ahead. How the rest of the team can play the supporting role may even be more crucial for the Gin Kings’ cause.
PBA Finals: Ginebra finds a hero in Malonzo, who helped preserve JB heroics
CITY OF ANTIPOLO—Jamie Malonzo is no stranger to struggles. He’s fought through several of them in his young career—both on the court and off of it.
So when Barangay Ginebra’s indefatigable import Justin Brownlee faced struggles of his own, Malonzo made sure he would not let his teammate down, rising to the occasion in the crowd darlings’ 95-78 Game 4 victory against TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Friday night.
Malonzo played inspired basketball at Ynares Center here, finishing with 24 points—10 of which sparked a late pullaway in the fourth that ultimately allowed the crowd darlings to knot the best-of-seven showdown to two games apiece.
“Well, me and the team understood that it’s a crucial game in the series,” Malonzo told reporters on the heels of the win. “It’s very important for us to get a win today and I think our team really had the focus. Luckily, we got a few shots to fall and that helped a lot.”