MANILA — Two of the PBA’s fiercest rivals are headed for another championship collision after Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT Tropang 5G booked their places in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals with separate semifinal-clinching victories Sunday night.
Barangay Ginebra became the first team to punch a ticket to the finals after riding the explosive performances of Justin Brownlee and Rhon Jay Abarrientos to a 118-107 victory over Rain or Shine in Game 6 of their semifinal series at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Hours later, reigning champion TNT completed the Finals cast by edging sister team Meralco, 97-94, behind Jordan Heading’s clutch heroics in another Game 6 thriller.
The victories set the stage for a highly anticipated Ginebra-TNT championship showdown.
Brownlee powered the Gin Kings with a dominant double-double of 31 points and 14 rebounds, along with five assists, while Abarrientos erupted for 30 points, seven assists, and six rebounds as Ginebra closed out the series, 4-2.
Earl Scottie Thompson added 16 points, while Ralph Cu chipped in 11 as the Gin Kings advanced to their 32nd PBA Finals appearance.
After a closely fought opening quarter, Ginebra broke the game open in the second period behind Brownlee, Thompson, and Abarrientos, building a commanding 60-45 halftime advantage.
Rain or Shine responded with a strong third-quarter rally and cut the deficit to just two points, but timely baskets from Isaac Go and Cu helped restore order and push Ginebra ahead, 93-81, entering the final period.
The Elasto Painters threatened again after trimming the lead to 93-89 in the fourth quarter, but Brownlee and Abarrientos delivered the crucial baskets that finally put the series away.
Jaylen Johnson paced Rain or Shine with 27 points, while Gian Mamuyac contributed 25. Adrian Nocum, Caelan Tiongson, and Anton Asistio added 16, 12, and 10 points, respectively.
In the nightcap, TNT needed late-game composure to fend off a determined Meralco squad and secure its return to the Finals.
After the Bolts erased a deficit and tied the game at 94-all, Heading converted a go-ahead three-point play with less than a minute remaining to put the Tropang 5G ahead for good.
Meralco still had opportunities to force overtime or steal the win, but CJ Cansino missed a four-point attempt and Jason Brickman failed to connect on a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer.
Heading finished with 30 points, highlighted by seven three-pointers, while Chris McCullough added 22 points and Calvin Oftana contributed 12 for TNT.
With both semifinal series ending in six games, the spotlight now shifts to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where Ginebra and TNT will battle for one of the season’s most coveted titles./PN
