FINALS HEAD-TO-HEAD | TNT VS GINEBRA

The 2026 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals are now set, with the TNT Tropang 5G and the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings renewing their rivalry.

Over the last two seasons, the story has essentially been TNT getting the better of Ginebra, only for San Miguel to "resbak" on behalf of their SMC brother and prevent TNT from establishing a dynasty.

After all, San Miguel has already crushed TNT's Grand Slam dreams twice.

That said, San Miguel won't be able to help Ginebra this time around—and it's not like the Gin Kings need the assistance. They enter the Finals as the highest remaining seed, with potential Best Player of the Conference winner RJ Abarrientos and potential Best Import Justin Brownlee leading the charge.

Meanwhile, the defending champions are heading into the showdown as the eighth seed. So aside from trying to retain its title and adjusting to the loss of Bol Manute Bol, TNT will have to defend its crown against a Ginebra squad that enters the series as the favorite.

SEASON	CONF	WINNER	COACH	INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
2004-05	PHLCUP	GIN | 4-2	TANQUINGCEN	BPC | MENK FINALS MVP | MENK
2010-11	COMCUP	TNT | 4-2	CHOT REYES	BPC | ALAPAG FINALS MVP | ALAPAG / CASTRO BEST IMP | NATE BRUMFIELD | GIN
2020	PHLCUP	GIN | 4-1	TIM CONE	BPC | PRINGLE FINALS MVP | TENORIO
2022-23	GOVCUP	TNT | 4-2	J. LASTIMOSA	BPC | STANDHARDINGER FINALS MVP | M. WILLIAMS BEST IMP | R. HOLLIS-JEFFERSON | TNT
2024-25	GOVCUP	TNT | 4-2	CHOT REYES	BPC | FAJARDO (SMB) FINALS MVP | CASTRO BEST IMP | R. HOLLIS-JEFFERSON | TNT
2024-25	COMCUP	TNT | 4-3	CHOT REYES	BPC | TOLENTINO (NOR) FINALS MVP | NAMBATAC BEST IMP | R. HOLLIS-JEFFERSON | TNT

Historically, however, TNT holds the edge. In six Finals meetings between the two franchises, TNT owns a 4-2 advantage. The Tropang 5G have also won each of their last three championship series against the Gin Kings.

To make the case for TNT even stronger, all four of its Finals victories over Ginebra came in import-laden conferences, while Ginebra's two championships against TNT came in all-Filipino competitions. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson powered TNT to three of those four Finals victories, while Jayson Castro earned Finals MVP honors in both of TNT's championship wins.

In the lone conference of the 2020 PBA season, Stanley Pringle won the Best Player of the Conference award, which, in my opinion, should have essentially made him the season MVP as well. Meanwhile, Christian Standhardinger is the only BPC winner in TNT-Ginebra Finals history to end up on the losing side of the championship series.

Chris McCullough, the former San Miguel import who won his first PBA title as a replacement import, will now suit up for TNT as Bol's replacement and take on the Gin Kings in another high-stakes Finals battle.

Still, without RHJ in the picture, Brownlee stands as the lone former Best Import winner in this series. TNT may have history on its side, but based on what has happened this conference, Ginebra appears to have the upper hand, including a victory over TNT during the elimination round.

As always, this series promises to be a treat.