Ginebra captures PBA Commissioner’s Cup title, beats TNT in Game 7
Scottie Thompson and RJ Abarrientos celebrate as Barangay Ginebra wins the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup title after beating TNT Tropang 5G in Game 7. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra is back on top of the mountain.
The Gin Kings defeated TNT, 88-76, in Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday night to capture their first championship since 2023.
It is Ginebra’s first title since beating guest team Bay Area in the same tournament three years ago.
Justin Brownlee led the way with 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Scottie Thompson posted a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds to go along with eight assists. Thompson was named Finals MVP.
Make that three Finals MVPs for Scottie. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ
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RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario added 13 points apiece for the Gin Kings, who made a pivotal third-quarter rally to take the lead for good in the low-scoring affair.
Down by seven at halftime, Ginebra closed the penultimate period on a 12-0 run for a 68-63 advantage that it carried into the tense fourth quarter.
A three-pointer from Nards Pinto and a basket by Brownlee pushed the Gin Kings’ lead to 75-67 before Chris McCullough tried to keep TNT alive from the foul line.
Despite being hampered by five fouls, McCullough powered the Tropang 5G back within three, 77-74, with 5:15 remaining.
Pinto knocked down another timely triple to restore Ginebra’s cushion at 80-74 before McCullough scored again, which turned out to be TNT’s final basket of the night with 2:22 left.
Abarrientos, who had sat out a stretch of the fourth quarter because of a flagrant foul, drilled a clutch three-pointer from the top of the key for an 83-76 lead with two minutes to play.
NOYPI IS CHAMP AGAIN 🇵🇭
Justin Brownlee wins another PBA title with Barangay Ginebra. #PBAFinals | @MeloFuertesINQ
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TNT had several opportunities down the stretch to cut into the deficit, but the Tropang 5G could not get their shots to fall as they surrendered the Commissioner’s Cup crown.
McCullough finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds for TNT in the loss, while Jordan Heading added 15 points and Roger Pogoy chipped in 13.
It was a fitting ending to what had been a perfectly matched best-of-seven series, with neither team winning back-to-back games.
Ginebra took a 3-2 lead behind Brownlee’s 54-point performance in Game 5, but TNT bounced back in Game 6 to force a decider.
The Gin Kings, however, had the final say in Game 7.
