Chris McCullough delivered a performance for the ages as TNT Tropang 5G defeated Barangay Ginebra, 98-90, in Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Sunday, June 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The victory forced a winner-take-all Game 7 and kept TNT’s hopes of a championship repeat alive.

Playing before a crowd of 22,731 fans, McCullough produced a dominant stat line of 53 points and 22 rebounds while carrying a depleted TNT squad missing key contributors Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser. His heroics ensured that the championship series would go the distance.

The former San Miguel Beer import matched Ginebra star Justin Brownlee shot for shot in a memorable duel between two prolific scorers. Brownlee finished with 52 points, just days after posting a career-best 54-point outing in Game 5, but McCullough ultimately delivered the decisive blows.

McCullough Takes Over

TNT appeared to be in trouble after Ginebra erased a 10-point deficit and seized an 80-78 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Gin Kings used a 13-3 run to swing momentum and move closer to capturing the championship.

McCullough refused to let the game slip away. The veteran import responded with a barrage of perimeter shots, knocking down two crucial three-pointers and a four-point play during a devastating scoring burst.

The sequence transformed a tight contest into a manageable lead for TNT. McCullough’s offensive explosion helped the Tropang 5G build a 94-86 advantage with less than two minutes remaining.

He added another three-pointer with 1:29 left to extend the lead to 96-88 and effectively put the game out of reach. The clutch stretch highlighted the determination of a player still pursuing a second PBA championship.

McCullough’s effort was particularly important given TNT’s injury concerns. Calvin Oftana missed the game with a calf strain, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser remained sidelined because of an ankle injury. Veteran playmaker Jayson Castro also suffered a hard fall late in the contest.

Despite the adversity, TNT found enough support around its star import to keep the series alive. Jordan Heading contributed 19 points, while RR Pogoy added 13 points in a valuable supporting role.

Finals Series Evened

The victory leveled the championship series at three games apiece and erased Ginebra’s first opportunity to close out the finals. What once appeared to be a potential title-clinching night for the Gin Kings instead became another chapter in a fiercely contested rivalry.

TNT head coach Chot Reyes praised McCullough’s response after Brownlee’s recent scoring outbursts. Reyes acknowledged the significance of his import’s ability to match one of the league’s greatest championship performers.

“I guess C-Mac got tired of Justin eating his lunch. Another 50-piece by Justin but C-Mac was able to stay in step with him and I think that’s basically the key,” Reyes said.

The coach also revealed the message that inspired his players before the game. With the season on the line, TNT focused on surviving the final two games of the championship series.

“In our board, we put there ‘96 minutes’ encircled in a heart. We said let’s play the best 96 minutes of our lives — Game 6 and Game 7. And now, we’ve done the first half of that,” Reyes added.

Brownlee’s 52-point effort once again carried much of the offensive burden for Ginebra. However, he received limited support from his teammates as no other Gin Kings player reached double figures.

Troy Rosario came closest with nine points, while RJ Abarrientos finished with six. Scottie Thompson was held to just three points as TNT’s defense successfully contained the rest of Ginebra’s lineup.

With the series now tied at 3-3, both teams will have one final opportunity to claim the championship. Game 7 is scheduled for Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where the Commissioner’s Cup title will be decided.