It’s an SMC-MVP affair once again in the PBA Finals. (Everyone pretend to be shocked!)
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the TNT Tropang 5G are scheduled to kick off the series, with each team looking to draw first blood. These teams met just once in the elimination phase, with Ginebra winning 93-86.
Catch this game live on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- RJ Abarrientos
- Scottie Thompson
- Stephen Holt
- Justin Brownlee
- Japeth Aguilar
Ginebra was ultimately too much for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, as the Barangay finished off Yeng Guiao’s team in six games in the semifinals. The tandem of Justin Brownlee and RJ Abarrientos was a huge headache that Rain or Shine simply had no cure for.
Brownlee finished Game 6 of the Rain or Shine series with 31 points with 15 boards, while Abarrientos had 30 points and seven assists in a 118-107 series-clinching victory. With two incredible shotmakers in Brownlee and Abarrientos, the Barangay will always have someone to count on to at least get off quality shots on offense.
According to RealGM, Ginebra has the league’s best eFG% at 55.2. Ginebra is also tops overall in the PBA with a 120.0 offensive rating, and that surely has a lot to do with the Barangay having the proven Brownlee and Abarrientos in the fold.
TNT Tropang 5G (0-0)
Projected Starting Five:
- Jayson Castro
- RR Pogoy
- Calvin Oftana
- Kelly Williams
- Chris McCullough
Like Ginebra, the Tropang 5G did not allow their semis series to reach seven games. TNT sent sister club Meralco Bolts to vacation with a 97-94 win in Game 6.
Even with the sudden import change from Bol Bol to Chris McCullough, the Tropang 5G looked formidable down the stretch in the Meralco series. McCullough had 22 points on a salty 7/22 shooting in his first game with TNT, but erupted for 42 points on 16/28 shooting in Game 5.
In Game 6, he shot just 6/17 from the floor for 22 points, but he grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out seven assists. He seems to be fitting in nicely with the Tropang 5G, and is showing potential to contribute beyond just scoring.
That will be important in the Finals, especially in countering and negating Brownlee’s impact. But no one should be sleeping on Jordan Heading going into Game 1 after he went off for 30 points with seven 3-pointers in Game 6 of the Bolts series.
Picks
Spread: TNT Tropang 5G (+2.5)
Over/Under: Over (201.5)
