Barangay Ginebra San Miguel notched its fifth straight win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, taking care of business against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers with a 119-107 victory at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The win is Ginebra’s seventh against two losses and moves the crowd darlings to joint second in the standings with the NLEX Road Warriors. The loss is Titan Ultra’s seventh against two wins and eliminates the Giant Risers from the quarterfinals race.
What Happened?
Ginebra took a 22-16 lead in the opening frame as Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos sizzled early, with Brownlee firing 10 on a couple of four-pointers and Abarrientos getting loose for a pair of triples. Brownlee’s hot shooting continued in the second, where he scored 10 of Ginebra’s 34 points. Titan Ultra, however, kept pace with the crowd darlings, scoring 32 of its own to enter halftime down by only eight, 56-48.
Ginebra, though, refused to let the Giant Risers build any sort of momentum, continuing its stellar play in the third to extend its advantage to 86-73 after three. Titan Ultra cut the lead to single digits at 103-94 at the 5:31 mark of the fourth but couldn’t get any closer as Ginebra slammed the door for its fifth consecutive win.
Who Stood Out?
It was mostly the Brownlee-Abarrientos show, with Brownlee tallying 35 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks, and Abarrientos adding 25 markers on four triples. Scottie Thompson also shone by doing a little bit of everything on his way to a near triple-double of 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists.
On the other side, Joshua Munzon stood out for Titan Ultra as he fired 20 points to go along with 6 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals in an all-around showing.
3 Keys to the Game
- Good shooting. Ginebra didn’t necessarily dominate most statistical categories, but it did outshoot Titan Ultra, 48.9% to 43.7%. The crowd favorites got hot early, and it proved to be the difference-maker.
- Starter play. Tim Cone’s starting unit got the job done on Sunday, with Brownlee and Abarrientos leading the team’s fast start and the others—Thompson, Troy Rosario, and Stephen Holt—all contributing double-digit scoring afterward. In all, Ginebra’s starters outscored their Titan counterparts, 94-60, as import Michael Gilmore had only 15.
- Steady play. The Gin Kings held steady throughout the game, keeping their poise and wits about them every time Titan Ultra tried to make a move. As a result, the Giant Risers couldn’t get close enough to mount a serious challenge to the league’s most popular ball club.
Next Up for the PBA
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Blackwater Bossing vs. Macau Black Knights (5:15 p.m.)
Meralco Bolts vs. San Miguel Beermen (7:30 p.m.)
