MANILA, Philippines, March 24 ------ Barangay Ginebra closed in on ending a two-year championship drought thanks to the endgame heroics of Justin Brownlee and Scottie Thompson. The Gin Kings tightened up the defensive screws and turned to the two stars down the stretch to hack out a 73-66 win over TNT in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Araneta Coliseum.
Brownlee and Thompson scored all the points in an 8-0 closing run that allowed Ginebra to grab 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and zero in on its first championship since ruling the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup. The Tropang Giga still led 66-65 but went scoreless in the final 4:25 minutes as they found the Gin Kings’ defense a tough nut to crack, missing all of their last 9 field goal attempts. Brownlee bucked a quiet first half that saw him limited to just 2 points, and finished with 18 points to go with 12 rebounds and 5 assists — a superb effort for the three-time Best Import still dealing with a dislocated right thumb.
Meanwhile, Thompson put up 16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson posted a game-high 19 points with 12 rebounds, but he failed to score in the final 11 minutes.
The Scores
Barangay Ginebra 73 – Brownlee 18, Thompson 16, J. Aguilar 11, Ahanmisi 11, Rosario 6, Malonzo 6, Holt 3, Abarrientos 2, Tenorio 0.
TNT 66 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 19, Oftana 8, Pogoy 8, Aurin 8, Erram 4, Heruela 0, Williams 0, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0.
Quarters: 17-24, 35-45, 57-56, 73-66.
Source: rappler.com
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