PBA Finals: Ginebra hopes to avoid another nail-biter vs TNT

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee attempts a shot over TNT Tropang 5G’ Chris McCullough during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Like he has done so many times in the past, Justin Brownlee rose to the challenge by hitting a tough fade-away over Chris McCullough that keyed Barangay Ginebra’s win over defending champion TNT at the start of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals series on Wednesday night.

But Brownlee and the Gin Kings know that being dragged into that type of a game that resulted in a 102-100 escape act could be too precarious as they go for a 2-0 lead over the Tropang 5G on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I gotta admit, we lost a lot of rhythm, offensively,” Brownlee said, ruing the way the crowd favorites squandered an 18-point lead in the third quarter to even trail by five near the homestretch.

Rhythm was something Ginebra had during the first half, with its offense clicking from inside and out. TNT found a way to mount a rally, meticulously closing the gap behind RR Pogoy and Rey Nambatac.

Almost imploding

The Tropang 5G, though, didn’t get the job done and Ginebra knows that its near collapse could play a role in the second game of the best-of-seven affair.

“They hurt us on the post and I think that opened up some shooters for them,” said Brownlee. “I also think that we could do a better job on the offensive rebounding. I’m not sure how many offensive rebounds we gave up, but I know we gave up some crucial ones.”

Ginebra allowed TNT to haul down 14 offensive boards.

What allowed Ginebra to avoid a regretful result was how it got to respond in a timely manner, with RJ Abarrientos hitting two four-point shots despite going cold in the fourth and Brownlee draining that winning jumper.

“I guess the key was to not let them overwhelm us,” he said. “It was a little bit overwhelming when they came back. [But] we just tried to stay solid. We tried to be who we are, a team that plays together for the ball.

“We tried to make big plays and everyone stepped up,” added Brownlee, who finished with 23 points on 10-of-21 shooting.

The TNT comeback was certainly a point of concern for coach Tim Cone as Ginebra spent Thursday’s lull mapping out its adjustments to make sure it can be consistent this time.

Check Nambatac

One of the things Cone pointed out was the way Nambatac shot the lights out during the critical fourth period.

“He had a hot-shooting night,” Cone said. “He hadn’t shot well during the Meralco series for them, but he came in and shot well. And he did that last year when he got the best player of the Finals.

“So we got to figure him out a little bit better, we got to figure out everybody well,” Cone said. “It’s just Game 1 and we lost Game 1 against Rain or Shine [in the semis] and ended up winning the series in six games.

“And that just shows you how little Game 1 means in terms of the big picture.”