Chris McCullough delivered a masterclass performance to power the TNT Tropang 5G past Barangay Ginebra, 98-90, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The high-stakes matchup evolved into an epic scoring duel between the two powerhouse imports. McCullough exploded for a game-high 53 points, which included a critical 11-point blitz in the final three minutes to shatter an 85-82 deadlock and seal the victory for TNT.
In the winding minutes of the fourth quarter, the game became a direct shootout between the two world-class reinforcements.
Justin Brownlee single-handedly kept the Gin Kings within striking distance by scoring 10 consecutive points down the stretch, finishing his spectacular night with 52 points.
Ultimately, TNT’s superior local support proved to be the difference-maker. McCullough’s heroic effort, paired with a resilient local roster, successfully masked the absences of Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, as well as a late-game injury to veteran playmaker Jayson Castro.
Jordan Heading stepped up big with 19 points and nine assists, while RR Pogoy chipped in 14 markers. McCullough also dominated the paint, grabbing 22 rebounds to anchor the Tropang 5G’s defensive end.
Conversely, Brownlee lacked a consistent secondary scoring option from the Ginebra locals. Troy Rosario topped the team’s local scoring with just nine points, leaving the resident import to shoulder the heavy offensive workload for most of the evening.
With the finals series tied up, TNT and Barangay Ginebra will collide one last time in a do-or-die Game 7 showdown for the championship.