PBA Finals: Thompson's clutch buckets help Ginebra grab series advantage, 87-83

SOURCE: CNN Philippines

Ginebra survived the San Miguel Beermen, 87-83, in Game 5 of the finals Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Barangay Ginebra is one win away from the 2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup title.

Ginebra survived the San Miguel Beermen, 87-83, in Game 5 of the finals Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Scottie Thompson paced Ginebra with 20 points, his best output in the championship series, and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Unlike in the previous matches, both squads engaged in a low-scoring affair in the first half.

It was the same story in the third frame as they ended up with a tied score.

Marcio Lassiter came up big time down the stretch for the Beermen with timely buckets.

Down by a point, Thompson scored back-to-back baskets to give Ginebra the a three-point lead with 23.1 seconds left in the payoff period.

Import Justin Brownlee contributed 18 points and nine rebounds for Ginebra.

Renaldo Balkman had a game-high 41 points and 20 rebounds for San Miguel.

Game 6 is slated on August 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.