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Ginebra Moves Two Wins Away After Dominant Game 3 Victory Over TNT
Photo credit: PBA
Barangay Ginebra regained control of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals after cruising to a convincing 116-102 victory over TNT Tropang 5G in Game 3 on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With the win, the Gin Kings seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series and moved halfway toward capturing the title.
Determined to bounce back from their Game 2 loss, Ginebra came out firing from the opening tip and never looked back. The Kings quickly built a double-digit advantage and maintained control throughout the contest in front of a season-high crowd of 18,607 fans.
Stephen Holt sparked the early assault, knocking down three three-pointers in the opening quarter to help Ginebra race to a commanding start. The Kings finished the first period ahead 35-16 and carried a comfortable 59-42 lead into halftime.
Import Justin Brownlee once again delivered a masterclass performance, finishing with 41 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals while playing nearly the entire game. Scottie Thompson also shined with a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Holt added 23 points, while rookie guard RJ Abarrientos came through with timely baskets in the fourth quarter despite struggling for most of the night. He ended with 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Veterans Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario also provided valuable contributions as Ginebra relied heavily on its core players to secure the crucial victory.
After the game, head coach Tim Cone praised his team's ability to establish an early lead and maintain it until the final buzzer.
Cone noted that controlling a game from start to finish is never easy in a championship series, especially with the demanding schedule. He commended his players for digging deep despite playing heavy minutes in what he described as a pivotal contest.
Brownlee, meanwhile, credited Holt for setting the tone early with his hot shooting that helped Ginebra gain momentum from the outset.
TNT tried to stay within striking distance behind the efforts of import Chris McCullough and RR Pogoy. McCullough erupted for 44 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists, while Pogoy chipped in 28 points.
However, the Tropang 5G struggled to get production from some of their key scorers. Rey Nambatac was held scoreless after missing all four of his field-goal attempts, while Calvin Oftana managed just two points on a difficult 1-of-8 shooting night.
With momentum now on their side, the Gin Kings head into the next game needing just two more victories to bring home the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
With the win, the Gin Kings seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven championship series and moved halfway toward capturing the title.
Determined to bounce back from their Game 2 loss, Ginebra came out firing from the opening tip and never looked back. The Kings quickly built a double-digit advantage and maintained control throughout the contest in front of a season-high crowd of 18,607 fans.
Stephen Holt sparked the early assault, knocking down three three-pointers in the opening quarter to help Ginebra race to a commanding start. The Kings finished the first period ahead 35-16 and carried a comfortable 59-42 lead into halftime.
Import Justin Brownlee once again delivered a masterclass performance, finishing with 41 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals while playing nearly the entire game. Scottie Thompson also shined with a triple-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Holt added 23 points, while rookie guard RJ Abarrientos came through with timely baskets in the fourth quarter despite struggling for most of the night. He ended with 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Veterans Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario also provided valuable contributions as Ginebra relied heavily on its core players to secure the crucial victory.
After the game, head coach Tim Cone praised his team's ability to establish an early lead and maintain it until the final buzzer.
Cone noted that controlling a game from start to finish is never easy in a championship series, especially with the demanding schedule. He commended his players for digging deep despite playing heavy minutes in what he described as a pivotal contest.
Brownlee, meanwhile, credited Holt for setting the tone early with his hot shooting that helped Ginebra gain momentum from the outset.
TNT tried to stay within striking distance behind the efforts of import Chris McCullough and RR Pogoy. McCullough erupted for 44 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists, while Pogoy chipped in 28 points.
However, the Tropang 5G struggled to get production from some of their key scorers. Rey Nambatac was held scoreless after missing all four of his field-goal attempts, while Calvin Oftana managed just two points on a difficult 1-of-8 shooting night.
With momentum now on their side, the Gin Kings head into the next game needing just two more victories to bring home the Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Jun 8, 2026
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