BARANGAY Ginebra put away NorthPort in Game Five, 126-99, on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and arranged a finals grudge match with TNT in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup.
The Gin Kings went on a decisive third-quarter tear that saw them outscore the Batang Pier, 35-23, to finally wrap up the best-of-seven semifinal showdown, 4-1, after an uncharacteristic hiccup in Game Four on Wednesday.
With a fourth lopsided victory in the semis series, Ginebra crosses paths with TNT again in a best-of-seven playoff where the Gin Kings will be looking to exact revenge after losing to the Tropang Giga in the Governors’ Cup Finals.
READ PBA returns to MOA Arena for Game One of Ginebra-TNT finale
Game One won't be played until Friday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Justin Brownlee led six Ginebra players in double figures with 21 points, while RJ Abarrientos and Japeth Aguilar each had 20 for the Gin Kings, who led by as many as 31 points in the contest.
The loss ended NorthPort’s dream run in a conference that saw it claim the top seed in the playoffs before ousting eighth-seed and twice-to-win Magnolia in one game in the quarterfinals.
Brownlee added 11 rebounds, while Abarrientos also had a double-double of 20 points and 10 assists for the Gin Kings, who built an 89-58 lead in the third period.
Ginebra won by an average margin of 22.25 points ahead of their finals match against TNT where they will have a lengthy respite before going back to the court.
“It’s actually a good rest for both teams because we’ll be able to regenerate and get our energy back. And when you do that, you end up having a really good series,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
Japeth Aguilar wound up with 18 points, while Scottie Thompson added 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks for the Gin Kings. Troy Rosario had 11 points but suffered an ankle sprain early in the fourth.
Kadeem Jack unloaded 31 points and six rebounds, while Allyn Bulanadi chipped in 26 points for the Batang Pier, who got nine points and 13 rebounds from Arvin Tolentino.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 126 – Brownlee 21, Abarrientos 20, Malonzo 20, J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 14, Rosario 11, Ahanmisi 9, Holt 7, Mariano 2, Pinto 2, Adamos 2, Cu 0, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0.
NorthPort 99 – Jack 31, Bulanadi 26, Munzon 12, Taha 10, Tolentino 9, Navarro 9, Onwubere 2, Nelle 0, Flores 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarters: 23-22; 62-53; 97-76; 126-99.
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