Ginebra edged Magnolia 91-89 in a tense Manila Clasico showdown in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Gin Kings recovered from a blown 15-point lead and survived a dramatic finish to secure the win.

Ginebra built a strong first-half advantage, leading 50-35 at the break, but Magnolia stormed back in the third quarter with a 31-19 run to shift momentum. The game tightened late and turned into a possession-by-possession battle down the stretch.

Scottie Thompson led Ginebra with 24 points and 10 rebounds, delivering his best performance of the conference. His all-around play helped steady the Gin Kings during Magnolia’s late push.

Justin Brownlee added 29 points, nine rebounds, and four assists to keep Ginebra in control for long stretches. RJ Abarrientos provided the decisive moment with the game-winning basket in the closing seconds.

Clutch finish decides PBA results thriller

The final seconds featured heavy pressure after Magnolia tied the game at 89-89 following Mark Barroca’s free throws with 8.2 seconds left. The sequence set up a dramatic finish that defined the closing stretch.

Ginebra responded immediately as Scottie Thompson created the play that led to RJ Abarrientos scoring the go-ahead basket with 6.3 seconds remaining. Magnolia failed to convert its final possession, sealing the outcome.

Coach Tim Cone’s squad rebounded from a previous close loss and stopped Magnolia’s two-game winning streak with the victory.