PBA Finals: TNT forces Game 7 vs Ginebra as McCullough erupts for 53
TNT Tropang 5G’s Chris McCullough during Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—With TNT’s season on the line, Chris McCullough delivered a masterpiece.
The import made sure the Tropang 5G wouldn’t be sent packing just yet, powering them to a 98-90 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game 6 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
McCullough erupted for a gargantuan double-double of 53 points and 22 rebounds as TNT tied the series at 3-3 and forced a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday.
“I think C-Mac [just] got tired of Justin (Brownlee) eating his lunch,” coach Chot Reyes said.
“He (Brownlee) had another 50-piece today but C-Mac was able to stay in step with him and I think that’s basically the key. Our key was to keep them under a hundred [points].”
On the other end, Brownlee finished with 52 points for Ginebra, just 48 hours removed from scoring a career-high 54 in Game 5.
Ginebra led by two, 80-78, midway through the fourth quarter before the Tropang 5G unleashed a 10-2 run to grab an 88-82 advantage with three minutes remaining.
The Gin Kings managed to stay within striking distance, 90-86, but McCullough delivered the dagger in the form of a four-pointer that pushed TNT’s lead to 94-86 with 1:52 left.
The Tropang 5G played without Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Calvin Oftana but Jordan Heading and Roger Pogoy made up for it with 19 and 13 points, respectively.
No other Ginebra player aside from Brownlee reached double figures, with Troy Rosario and Japeth Aguilar leading the locals with nine and eight points, respectively.
