Gin Kings cruise past Batang Pier, arrange Finals clash with Tropang Giga
After enduring a title-less drought over the past four conferences, the Gin Kings are back in the mix, seizing the opportunity to reclaim their former glory by advancing to the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup finals with a decisive 4-1 victory over NorthPort.
In a commanding display, the league’s most beloved ballclub clinched their finals berth with a resounding 126-99 victory in Game 5 of the semifinals held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday night.
This triumph not only puts Coach Tim Cone’s squad in contention for their first title since the 47th Commissioner’s Cup but also sets the stage for a highly anticipated rematch against TNT, the team that thwarted them in back-to-back Governors’ Cup championship clashes.
The intense rivalry will reignite as the Gin Kings and the Tropang Giga square off in a best-of-seven showdown commencing this Friday at the MOA Arena.
Just hours after TNT secured their finals spot with a nail-biting 97-92 victory over Rain or Shine, Ginebra took care of business against the Batang Pier, solidifying their place at the top.
In Game 5, Cone’s charges seized control during the second quarter, outscoring NorthPort 39-31 to take a 62-53 lead into halftime. Riding the wave of momentum, the Gin Kings began the third quarter with a blistering 14-0 run, expanding their advantage to a staggering 23 points.
Justin Brownlee led the charge, contributing 21 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while the Ginebra support cast stepped up in a significant bounce-back from their narrow 108-103 defeat last Wednesday that had denied them a 4-0 sweep.
RJ Abarrientos delivered a standout performance off the bench, racking up a double-double with 20 points and 10 assists. Jamie Malonzo also made a mark with 20 points, including an impressive 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Japeth Aguilar added 18 points, Scottie Thompson contributed a well-rounded 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Troy Rosario chipped in 11 before exiting the game in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle.
On the other side, Kadeem Jack and Allyn Bulanadi highlighted a valiant effort for the top-seeded NorthPort, with Jack pouring in 31 points and Bulanadi adding 26 points, including six three-pointers. However, the squad’s promising run in the mid-season conference concluded on a disappointing note, leaving them to reflect as the Gin Kings march onward.
