CHAMPIONSHIPS are not always about the final buzzer.
Sometimes, they are about the long, quiet walks between defeats. Barangay Ginebra took that walk for seven conferences.
On Wednesday night, at Mall of Asia Arena, the Gin Kings finally found their way home.
In front of 24,617 witnesses who sang, prayed, and willed every possession, Ginebra outlasted TNT, 88-76, in Game 7 to win the PBA Commissioner’s Cup — the franchise’s first title since that record 54,589-strong crowd at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, back in January 2023.
That night against Bay Area, 114-99.
Since that win, the Gin Kings had reached the finals three times, losing each series to TNT. Coach Tim Cone’s squad snapped the skid by dethroning the Tropang 5G, who had beaten Ginebra in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup final and in the Season 47 and Season 49 Governors’ Cup finals.
Import Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 30 points and 14 rebounds in the clincher, including 16 points in the second half to fuel a 48-29 run that erased a halftime deficit. Brownlee had scored 54 and 52 points in earlier games in the series.
“These beautiful fans, they gave us the energy to go out there and win,” Brownlee said. “We were down and TNT gave us a battle. But as coach Tim kept telling us, ‘this is our time.’
Stephen Holt said it before the series started, ‘this is our time.’ And it was our time.”
The win gave Brownlee his seventh PBA championship.
“Ten years ago I would never have thought I’d be still playing at 38 years old and winning championships,” Brownlee said. “But these fans, they give me the energy to go out there play for them, play for my family and give my best.”
Scottie Thompson finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists and was named Finals MVP by the PBA Press Corps.
RJ Abarrientos added 13 points to win his first PBA title.
TNT was led by import Chris McCullough’s 28 points. Jordan Heading scored 21 and RR Pogoy had 15.
The Tropang 5G led 47-40 at halftime before Ginebra took control in the third quarter.
The scores:
Ginebra 88 — Brownlee 30, Thompson 19, Abarrientos 13, Rosario 13, J. Aguilar 7, Pinto 6, Gray 0, Holt 0, Cu 0.
TNT 76 — McCullough 28, Heading 21, Pogoy 15, Oftana 5, Aurin 4, Nambatac 3, Galinato 0, Khobuntin 0, Williams 0.
Quarterscores: 18-16, 40-47, 68-63, 88-76.
