Gin Kings ward off TNT comeback, move two wins from first PBA title since 2023

The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings silenced a late comeback bid by the TNT Tropang 5G to seal a 116–102 win and a 2–1 series lead in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioners Cup Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena, June 7.

Ginebra now moves two wins away from its 16th franchise championship and first title since the 2023 Commissioners Cup

Ginebra banked on hot perimeter shooting to build a lead as high as 22 and control most of the game until TNT uncorked an uprising in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to eight points.

However, with five minutes left, Ginebra guard RJ Abarrientos bailed out the struggling Gin Kings after drilling a desperate four-point heave as the shot clock wound down, restoring a double-digit lead and completely shifting the momentum back to Ginebra’s side.

It was all Gin Kings from there as dagger after dagger found the net.

Frontgunning the red-clad men was Justin Brownlee who fired 41 points, seven rebounds and assists with three steals.

Backstopping the cornerstone import was Stephen Holt, who provided the initial spark, tallying 23 markers, as Abarrientos followed up with 15 points and six dimes.

In a postgame presser, Ginebra coach Tim Cone shared that with the third game in five days, his six-man rotation dug deep knowing the contest could prove pivotal in the outcome of the series.

“In a finals game, I don’t think everybody realizes how difficult it is to get an early lead and keep that lead all through the game. It’s really hard to do in a finals game so I got to tip my cap to our players,” Cone added.

Meanwhile, Brownlee said postgame that the team wanted to establish an aggressive tone and show the 18,607 fans in attendance the “NSD” spirit.

The 36-year-old longtime import also spoke about Holt’s performance: “It was great to see Stephen get going like he did especially in the beginning of the game. Obviously he had been struggling, you know players go through things like that.”

After failing to make a field goal in the first two games of the series, Holt was automatic in the first frame, anchoring Ginebra’s offense with 15 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting as his team raced to a 35-16 lead after the first frame.

Despite TNT import Chris McCollough’s 21-point second quarter, the Tropang 5G could never inch closer as Ginebra’s offense waxed hot at an efficient 52% shooting and 27 assists on 40 made baskets.

McCollough tallied a season-high 44 points and 13 rebounds,while RR Pogoy played a pivotal role in the comeback attempt, finishing with 28 points on seven threes, while game two hero Calvin Oftana only posted two points after dropping 31 in the prior match.

Ginebra will look to preserve its winning antics as they once again square off in the Big Dome for Game 4 of the series, June 10.