By Art Ramirez

Justin Brownlee hit the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left as Barangay Ginebra defeated TNT, 102-100, in Game 1 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 50 Commissioner’s Cup finals at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Brownlee was clutch once again, burying a fadeaway over Chris McCullough to break the tie and send the majority of the 11,447 fans at the Araneta Coliseum in a frenzy.

Calvin Oftana failed to convert on an alley-oop inbound pass by Jordan Heading in TNT’s final possession of Game 1.

RJ Abarrientos was also stellar for Barangay Ginebra when he made two four-point shots to wrest the lead back after TNT got a 95-90 advantage with 3:03 left on an RR Pogoy basket.

Abarrientos scored the initial four to make it a 96-95, and another one to give Ginebra a 100-97 lead after Pogoy made two free throws to retake the lead for TNT.

Abarrientos finished with 24 points, while Brownlee added 23 points for the Gin Kings, who led by as many as 18 points, 64-46, in Game 1.

McCullough had 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Pogoy had 22 points in a losing effort.