LIVE: 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 1 - Ginebra vs TNT
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LIVE: 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 1 – Ginebra vs TNT

/ Updated as of: 10:45 PM June 03, 2026

LIVE UPDATES: 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Game 1 (June 3) - Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs TNT Tropang 5G.

  • TNT Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings begin their best-of-seven PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals showdown.

2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 1

June 3, Wednesday – Smart Araneta Coliseum

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  • 7:30pm – Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings vs TNT Tropang 5G

PBA Finals: Brownlee hits winner as Ginebra escapes TNT in Game 1

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Justin Brownlee attempts a shot over TNT Tropang 5G' Chris McCullough during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee attempts a shot over TNT Tropang 5G’ Chris McCullough during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra drew first blood in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals after escaping TNT, 102-100, on a game-winner from Justin Brownlee on Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Brownlee hit the go-ahead basket with less than a second remaining, leaving the Tropang 5G with little time to respond in the series opener.

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“It’s just a matter of trying to get the ball into Justin’s hands,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“He went and did his thing. It’s not the first time he’s done that in his career. It was the same play where he made ‘The Shot’ when we beat Meralco for our 2016 championship.”

LIVE UPDATES: 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 1 – Ginebra vs TNT

FINAL: Barangay Ginebra steals Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals with a 102-100 win over TNT.

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  • FINAL: Barangay Ginebra steals Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals with a 102-100 win over TNT.
  • Oftana tries to get a shot off in less than a second, but couldn’t complete. Chot Reyes calling for a foul. Game ends.
  • Justine Brownlee for the win? HE BANKS IT HOME. Ginebra with a 102-100 with 0.6 left.
  • Roger Pogoy goes for a 4, he misses. He takes the 3, AND MAKES IT! Game tied at 100 all. 10.6 seconds to go.
  • RJ Abarrientos WITH ANOTHER FOUR! Man is on fire. Ginebra takes a 100-97 lead, 20.4 seconds to go.
  • Pogoy 2-for-2. 97-96 for TNT.
  • Brownlee miss. Roger Pogoy fouled and he shoots for 2.
  • RJ Abarrientos with a BIG FOUR. Ginebra back in the lead, 96-95! Under 2 minutes left.
  • McCullough loses the ball and commits a foul on Brownlee. Turnover TNT. 1:48 to go.
  • RJ Abarrientos finds Troy Rosario down low. Ginebra down 95-92.
  • 95-90 lead for TNT to tie its biggest lead of five. 3 minutes to play.
  • 2-for-3 for Nambatac from the line. 93-90 lead for TNT.
  • RJ Abarrientos 2. Ginebra down by one, 91-90.
  • Nambatac with another 3, this time from top of the key. TNT back in the lead, 91-88, for the first time in the first quarter.
  • NAMBATAC 4 POINTS. Game tied at 88!
  • Roger Pogoy for 3. 5-0 run for TNT. Ginebra lead down to 4, 88-84.
  • TNT forces turnover. Nambatac finishes on the break. TNT still down, 88-81.
  • It’s raining 3s! Ralph Cu scores one of his own. 88-79 lead for the Gin Kings.
  • Jordan Heading answers quickly with a 3. Lead down to 6.
  • Justin Brownlee 3. Ginebra lead back to 9, 85-76.
  • Lefty layup for Calvin Oftana. TNT down by just 5, 79-74 to start the fourth.
  • END OF THIRD QUARTER: Ginebra still in the lead after that TNT comeback, 79-72.
  • Heading inside. He scores his first two. TNT down 79-72.
  • McCullough two freethrows. TNT down 79-70.
  • Ralph Cu answers with a 3. 76-66 for Ginebra.
  • Khobutin 3. 14-3 run for TNT here. Ginebra lead is down to 73-66, 2:24 in the third quarter.
  • Calvin Oftana strong to the hoop. TNT down 73-63.
  • 7-2 run for TNT here. Down by 11, 72-61.
  • Local help from TNT in form of BGR. He scores again but TNT down big 70-54.
  • Scottie Thompson 2 freethrows. 70-52 lead, Ginebra’s biggest lead at 18.
  • BGR tip in. TNT down 52-68.
  • Brownlee turnaround jumper. GInebra up big, 66-50. 7:41 third quarter.
  • Chris McCullough doing the heavy lifting for TNT with back to back baskets. TNT down 64-50.
  • Big Brownlee slam. 7-2 run for Ginebra to open the third quarter. 64-46.
  • Leading scorers at the half: Scottie Thompson with 13, Chris McCullough with 12.
  • AT THE HALF: Barangay Ginebra with a 57-44 halftime lead over TNT in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals
  • Scottie Thompson for 3. 54-42 for Ginebra.
  • Troy Rosario finishes RJ Abarrientos’ pass. 51-40 for Ginebra.
  • BGR freethrows puts TNT within single digits, 49-40.
  • C-Mac scores inside. TNT still trying to find its way back. Down 45-35.
  • BGR powers his way to the basket for 2. TNT still down by 10, 43-33.
  • Four freethrows for RJ Abarrientos. Now a 37-25 lead for Ginebra early in the second.
  • Ralph Cu with another catch and shoot 3. Ginebra 33, TNT 25.
  • END OF FIRST QUARTER: Ginebra leads TNT, 30-25.
  • Ginebra back in the lead, 27-25, with 3 freethrows from Scottie.
  • Calvin Oftana for 3. TNT ties the game at 25.
  • Oftana two freethrows. TNT within 25-22.
  • Khobuntin with a reverse layup. TNT behind by five, 25-20.
  • BGR scores. TNT down 18-23.
  • Jeremiah Gray joins the 3-point shooting party. 21-16 Ginebra.
  • 4/5 3-point shooting for Ginebra so far. They lead 16-14.
  • Another 3 from RJ Abarrientos. Ginebra takes the first lead of the game, 13-12. 6:10 in the first.
  • RJ Abarrientos responds with a 3 of his own. Ginebra still down 12-10.
  • Nambatac heating up early. He scores another 3. 12-7 lead for TNT.
  • Scottie Thompson 3. Ginebra trails 9-7.
  • Rey Nambatac early 3. TNT 7-5 lead.
  • Japeth Aguilar scores Ginebra’s first basket.
  • 4-0 start for Tropang 5G.
  • TNT starters: Rey Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, RR Pogoy, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Chris McCullough.
  • Ginebra starting 5: RJ Abarrientos, Scottie Thompson, Stephen Holt, Japeth Aguilar and Justin Brownlee

Ginebra’s path to finals will help PBA title bid, says Scottie

Scottie Thompson

Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra head into their PBA Commissioner’s Cup title showdown with TNT on Wednesday carrying lessons from their previous defeats at the hands of the same foe and hardened by a tough semifinal series against Rain or Shine.

And Thompson hopes that the 7:30 p.m. encounter at Smart Araneta Coliseum would be the stepping stone for the Gin Kings to finally get over the line and end a three-year championship drought that seemed like ages for a team used to success.

“We will use that as motivation,” Thompson said, as Ginebra eyes its first title since the 2022-2023 Commissioner’s Cup when it prevailed over the guest team Bay Area Dragons before 54,000 fans at Philippine Arena.

Championships have eluded the crowd favorites since, with their next three Finals trips ending in defeats, all against TNT.

PBA Finals: Jordan Heading hungry for payback after heartbreaks

TNT guard Jordan Heading reacts during Game 6 of the PBA semifinals against Meralco.

TNT guard Jordan Heading reacts during Game 6 of the PBA semifinals against Meralco. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—TNT was only one title away last season from completing a rare Grand Slam.

However, those dreams were halted when they fell to San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Cup Finals. They suffered another Finals loss to the Beermen this season in the same conference.

One of the main guys during those Finals runs was Jordan Heading, who made his conference debut with the Tropang 5G in last year’s All-Filipino conference.

But instead of a championship celebration, TNT ended up falling short, a moment Heading hopes to rewrite this time in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra.

“This means everything. When you lose in the finals, it sticks with you,” said Heading. “The whole offseason, that’s all I thought about, when I train in the morning, that’s all I think about.”

PBA Finals: RJ Abarrientos relishes chance to face Jayson Castro

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' RJ Abarrientos during a game in the PBA Commissioner's Cup.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ RJ Abarrientos during a game in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—While most players would feel the pressure of facing a PBA legend in the Finals, RJ Abarrientos is simply enjoying the moment.

Abarrientos, set for his third Finals appearance, enters the Commissioner’s Cup championship series with a chance to go head-to-head with PBA legend Jayson Castro.

For some, that would be a daunting challenge. For Abarrientos, it’s a dream come true.

“I still feel like I’m dreaming,” Abarrientos said. “I’m grateful that I get to face someone who I only watched before in the Finals. I’m just grateful to face Kuya Jayson. He’s healthy now, he’s back to the Finals and I’m looking forward to that.”

PBA Finals: No animosity between ex-foes and now-TNT teammates

Chris McCullough (right) has a chance at winning a second PBA title with a different team PBA Finals Ginebra vs TNT

Chris McCullough (right) has a chance at winning a second PBA title with a different team. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Chris McCullough admits that he’s still in the process of being in sync with his teammates after three games into his role as TNT’s replacement import.

Getting along with RR Pogoy, whose history with McCullough has been a source of talk on social media, didn’t have complications, though.

“Oh, we’re friends, man,” McCullough said on Monday when select members of the Finals protagonists Tropang 5G and Barangay Ginebra gathered at Novotel Manila for the customary press conference before the best-of-seven series for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title.

That elicited laughs inside the ballroom where the two teams met one more time before the series gets going on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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