Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings snapped a three-year championship drought after defeating TNT Tropang 5G, 88-76, in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Earl Scottie Thompson spearheaded the victory with a near triple-double of 19 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists to be named Finals MVP as the Gin Kings finished the series, 4-3.
After struggling offensively in the previous three Finals games, Thompson revealed that he had been dealing with health issues throughout the championship series against TNT.
“This is my very unhealthy championship round, thank God at naka sustain sa series,” Thompson said in a post-game interview. “Ito yung pinakamahirap na championship na nakuha namin. Kudos to TNT.”
Justin Brownlee spearheaded the offense with a double-double of 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Rhon Jay Abarrientos and Jeth Troy Rosario contributed 13 points apiece.
It was a tightly-contested game in the opening quarter with the Gin Kings clinging to a slim 18-16 lead before the Tropang 5G created separation in the second period for a 47-40 edge.
The Tropang 5G widened the lead to nine points in the third quarter before the Gin Kings turned things around with inside conversions from Brownlee and Thompson for a 68-63 edge.
TNT pulled closer at 74-77 midway through the final quarter but timely three-pointers from Nard John Pinto and Abarrientos and free throws from Brownlee sealed the win for Ginebra.
Chris McCullough finished with a double-double of 28 points and 22 rebounds, while Roger Pogoy and Jordan Heading added 21 and 15 points, respectively, for the Tropang 5G.
The post Ginebra dethrones TNT, clinches PBA Comm’s Cup crown first appeared on Fastbreak.
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