McCullough explodes for 53 as Tropang 5G force Game 7 vs Gin Kings

MANILA, Philippines — We are going to a Game 7. 

Chris McCullough stood on business and scattered 53 points to keep the TNT Tropang 5G alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals series against Barangay Ginebra, 98-90, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

In front of 22,731 screaming fans — the highest attendance at any venue over the last three seasons — McCullough erupted with 53 points to go with 22 rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in the victory. 

He went toe-to-toe against this conference’s Best Import of the Conference Justin Brownlee, who also had 52 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in the loss.

But it was McCullough who stood tall and made clutch shots down the stretch to secure the victory.

The game was tight through the fourth quarter, as Ginebra took an 80-78 lead with 6:10 remaining after a triple by Brownlee. 

But McCullough took over late. 

He scored 16 of TNT’s final 20 points, including a dagger 4-pointer with 1:53 remaining, that kept the Gin Kings at bay. 

A pair of Jordan Heading freebies iced the game and forced a deciding Game 7. 

Heading backstopped McCullough’s monster performance with 19 points, along with nine assists, a rebound, a steal and a block. RR Pogoy added 13 for TNT, which played without gunner Calvin Oftana.

Only Brownlee was able to score in double digits for the Gin Kings, as Troy Rosario chipped in nine points. Japeth Aguilar added eight markers, while Best Player of the Conference RJ Abarrientos was kept to just six. 

It will now boil down to one game for all the marbles, which will be on Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.