Romwel Anzures

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel veterans Justin Brownlee (right) and Japeth Aguilar (left) after Game 7 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. PBA Images.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782031143192IMG_1252.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Barangay Ginebra San Miguel veterans Justin Brownlee (right) and Japeth Aguilar (left) after Game 7 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup Finals. <em>PBA Images</em>.</span></span></span>MANILA — As the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down, Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar shared a tight embrace and exchanged a few quiet words, savoring Barangay Ginebra&#x27;s latest crowning glory while knowing moments like these are never guaranteed.</div><p>“I was telling him, ‘Hopefully not, but at our age, you’ll never know. It could be our last run, our last title,’” Brownlee shared late into the night as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/pba-gin-kings-reign-supreme-over-tropang-5g-clinch-commissioner-s-cup-crown-2208"><strong>Ginebra celebrated its 88-76 Game 7 victory over TNT</strong></a> Tropang 5G to capture the PBA Season 50 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup crown.</p><p>“At age 38, I just never would have thought I&#x27;d still be here.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/18/ten-years-on-brownlee-remains-the-gold-standard-among-pba-imports-0036"><strong>READ: Ten years on, Brownlee remains the gold standard among PBA imports</strong></a></div><p>Brownlee and Aguilar have been through a decade of wars together, sharing seven championships along the way.</p><p>It all started in 2016, when Brownlee drained a magical three-pointer to beat the Meralco Bolts and deliver Ginebra its first title in eight years. The Gin Kings then went on to win at least one championship every season until early 2023, when they defeated the Bay Area Dragons to rule the Season 47 Commissioner&#x27;s Cup.</p><p>What followed, however, were repeated Finals heartbreaks.</p><p>Brownlee saw his once-pristine 6-0 Finals record blemished as Ginebra lost three straight championship series to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and TNT Tropang 5G.</p><p>“We were very disappointed to lose three Finals series. It was very tough mentally,” Brownlee reflected.</p><p>The roster also underwent a transformation.</p><p>LA Tenorio&#x27;s 13-year stint with the franchise came to an end as he transitioned into a playing-coach role with their longtime rival Magnolia Hotshots.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/6/la-tenorio-bids-barangay-ginebra-goodbye-paalam-sa-jersey-pero-hindi-sa-puso-2130"><strong>READ: LA Tenorio bids Barangay Ginebra goodbye — ‘Paalam sa jersey, pero hindi sa puso’</strong></a></div><p>Ginebra also retooled through a series of trades that saw fan favorites Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, and Aljon Mariano moved elsewhere, while veteran Jared Dillinger retired and Jamie Malonzo took his talents to the Japan B.League.</p><p>That left Brownlee, Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson as the only remnants of Ginebra&#x27;s 2016 core, with the trio leading the charge to end another title drought under the guidance of Tim Cone.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/18/-more-bukol-more-panalo-thompson-s-bumps-and-bruises-pay-off-with-finals-mvp-0002"><strong>READ: Thompson&#x27;s bumps and bruises pay off with Finals MVP</strong></a></div><p>For Brownlee, it was Cone who helped this latest version of the Gin Kings rediscover its potential.</p><p>“It has been kind of like three or four eras of the team,” Brownlee said. “Coach Tim has done an amazing job of getting guys together, playing the right way, and he&#x27;s an incredible teacher.”</p><p>Also vital in Ginebra regain its form were newly crowned Best Player of the Conference RJ Abarrientos and veteran forward Troy Rosario, while Nards Pinto, Stephen Holt, Ralph Cu, Jeremiah Gray, and even rookie John Abis all stepped up in the Finals.</p><p>For Brownlee, patience was key.</p><p>“Sometimes, with the Triangle Offense, it takes a little time to learn. But once you learn it, it becomes second nature and helps guys excel no matter what type of player you are,” he said.</p><p>Eventually, Ginebra&#x27;s current core proved capable of overcoming the odds and a loaded field of reinforcements.</p><p>“We did a great job fighting. There were a lot of good imports, and it was very competitive, so I’m super proud of the team,” Brownlee said. “You had guys like Bol Bol, Jaylen Johnson and James Dickey, and we went through a lot this conference.”</p><p>In the Finals, Brownlee had to put on his Superman cape once more against Chris McCullough-led TNT, erupting for 54 points in Game 5 and 52 in Game 6 before the Gin Kings closed out the series in Game 7.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/13/pba-38-year-old-brownlee-turns-back-father-time-with-another-historic-masterpiece-1340"><strong>READ: 38-year-old Brownlee turns back Father Time with another historic masterpiece</strong></a></div><p>Both Brownlee and Aguilar understand, however, that making runs like this becomes harder with age.</p><p>“I&#x27;ve been very fortunate to play in 10 Finals series. That normally does not happen,” said Brownlee.</p><p>“Nag-usap kami ni Justin na this might be our last,” added Aguilar, who <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/12/1/fiba-japeth-aguilar-honored-ahead-of-final-game-with-gilas-pilipinas-1948"><strong>retired from Gilas Pilipinas</strong></a> last December.</p><p>The high-flying 39-year-old, who missed time during the conference due to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/4/27/pba-rosario-stepping-up-as-aguilar-remains-doubtful-for-ginebra-1430"><strong>knee and lung injuries</strong></a>, also shared how his teammates deserved more of the spotlight following this championship run.</p><p>“Give credits din sa teammates ko na naglaro ng heavy minutes. Sila talaga yung lumaban,” he said.</p><p>While Brownlee and Aguilar are still chasing another championship in the Governors&#x27; Cup, both veterans have come to appreciate more every opportunity that comes their way. </p><p>And after all these years, that uncertainty is why they cherish each title run a little more than the last.</p><p>“Japeth has a lot of fight left. He&#x27;s still dunking,” Brownlee said. “Both me and him, at our age, we still have a lot left in our tanks, and we proved it this conference. But like I said, hopefully not. I hope I don’t jinx myself.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1netE9jsblI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>As the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down, Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar shared a tight embrace and exchanged a few quiet words, savoring Barangay Ginebra's latest crowning glory while knowing moments like these are never guaranteed.</p>

As the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down, Justin Brownlee and Japeth Aguilar shared a tight embrace and exchanged a few quiet words, savoring Barangay Ginebra's latest crowning glory while knowing moments like these are never guaranteed.

Knowing Father Time waits for no one, JB and Japeth cherish latest title run a little more

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Knowing Father Time waits for no one, JB and Japeth cherish latest title run a little more

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 22, 2026 05:44 PM PHT

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