MANILA, Philippines – The wait is over! The stage is set for an intense showdown as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and TNT Tropang Giga clash in the 49th PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. Both teams secured their spots after eliminating NorthPort Batang Pier and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Friday, March 7, 2025, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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| Japeth Aguilar (right) puts on a dunking clinic in Game 5, powering Ginebra to a Finals clash against TNT Tropang Giga in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. Photo Credits: PBA.ph |
Knowing that Rain Or Shine had been eliminated and that their own season was on the line, NorthPort Batang Pier came out with a sense of urgency from the opening tipoff.
Determined to keep their championship hopes alive, NorthPort battled fiercely, keeping the game within reach against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. Their balanced scoring effort paid off, trailing by just a single point after the opening quarter.
Kudos to NorthPort for their grit and resilience, but Ginebra had only one goal in mind—to close out the series and shift their focus to TNT. Staying true to that mission, the Gin Kings unleashed an offensive onslaught in the second quarter, breaking the game wide open despite Justin Brownlee’s slow start.
As Ginebra’s lead continued to swell, NorthPort’s woes deepened as Ginebra began to sink triples, further dampening their chances of a comeback.
BatangPier’s Coach Bonnie Tan remained optimistic at halftime, even with his team trailing 62-53, believing they could turn things around in the second half.
TNT eliminated ROS
After back-to-back comeback wins in Games 3 and 4, TNT Tropang Giga showed no signs of slowing down, securing the first Commissioner’s Cup Finals berth with a hard-fought 97-92 victory, officially eliminating the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Determined to force a Game 6, ROS controlled the first three quarters with a commanding double-digit lead, fueled by Deon Thompson’s dominance in the paint as he overpowered every TNT defender in his way.
With their season on the line, the Tropang Giga leaned heavily on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who delivered a sensational 42-point performance. However, local support remained scarce, with only two other players reaching double figures.
Midway through the fourth, Coach Chot Reyes’ squad finally found their rhythm, turning defensive stops into crucial baskets. The Elasto Painters attempted a late-game push, but their once-red-hot shooting suddenly cooled off, sealing their fate and paving the way for TNT’s finals ticket.
With the game clock winding down and Rain or Shine clinging to their fading hopes, Calvin Oftana delivered the dagger with a deep three pointer that sealed TNT’s hard fought 4-1 series victory. As the ball swished through the net, it officially ended ROS’s comeback bid and sent Tropang Giga to the Commissioner's Cup Finals.
Ginebra locals stepped up for Brownlee
As the penultimate quarter unfolded, a surprising stat stood out as super import, Brownlee had only seven points. Despite his unusually low scoring, his team remained in control, powered by the strong performance of the locals. With one quarter left, five Gins led by RJ Abarientos had already reached double digits, keeping their squad ahead.
Arvin Tolentino, quiet in the first half, returned to the court with renewed determination to help his team chip away at Ginebra’s growing lead. He made an immediate impact, injecting energy and urgency into the game, but his efforts fell short against the Kings' commanding 30-point advantage.
Barangay’s lead was substantial, but it came at a heavy price as Troy Rosario suffered an ankle sprain late in the penultimate period. Before the unfortunate setback, Rosario had been instrumental in his team’s scoring surge, tallying 11 points before being forced to exit the game.
A glimmer of hope emerged for NorthPort as the players managed to contain the damage, trimming the deficit to 21. Kadeem Jack led the Batang Pier with 25 points, keeping their fight alive with one quarter left to play.
While Jack wasn’t ready to pack his bags and leave the Philippines for his next assignment, Brownlee had his sights set on closing out the series and facing Hollis-Jefferson in the finals. Ginebra’s resident import rose to the occasion in the final quarter, delivering a dominant double-double performance.
With Ginebra still in control, Abarrientos put on a Harlem Globetrotter-like display, dazzling the crowd with his slick dribbling and pinpoint passing. He effortlessly connected with high-flyer Japeth Aguilar for a series of electrifying slam dunks that sent the arena into a frenzy.
As the final horn echoed through the arena, Ginebra sealed their spot in the finals, setting up a highly anticipated showdown against TNT after sending NorthPort home, 126-99.
The highly anticipated best-of-seven Finals showdown between Ginebra and TNT is set to tip off on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express
