Who Won the PBA Governors Cup 2022? Full Results and Championship Highlights

As a longtime follower of the Philippine Basketball Association, I still vividly remember the electric atmosphere surrounding the 2022 PBA Governors' Cup finals. The championship series delivered exactly what basketball fans crave—high stakes, dramatic momentum swings, and ultimately, a deserving champion lifting the trophy. When people ask me who won that memorable tournament, I can't help but smile while recalling how Barangay Ginebra San Miguel captured their sixth Governors' Cup title in franchise history. That championship run was particularly special because it showcased the best of what makes Philippine basketball so compelling—the passionate fan support, the strategic coaching adjustments, and those clutch performances when everything was on the line.

The road to the championship wasn't straightforward for any team, especially considering how the PBA calendar works. I've always found it fascinating how teams must quickly shift gears between conferences, and this was particularly true looking at how the 2022 Governors' Cup set the stage for what would come next. Remember, just months after the Governors' Cup concluded, we saw TNT and San Miguel beginning their quest for the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup crown this past Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. This constant cycle of competition creates such an interesting dynamic where teams must balance short-term championship pursuits with long-term roster development. In my observation, Ginebra's success in the Governors' Cup directly influenced how other teams approached the subsequent Philippine Cup, with franchises recognizing the need for both import talent and local player development.

Looking specifically at that championship series, Ginebra defeated Meralco in four games, with the clincher coming on April 22, 2022, before a roaring crowd of 18,252 fans at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The final score in that decisive Game 4 was 103-92, but the numbers don't fully capture how dominant Ginebra was throughout the series. What impressed me most was how Coach Tim Cone managed his roster—the strategic deployment of Justin Brownlee alongside local stars like Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar created matchup nightmares for Meralco. Brownlee, who was named Best Import of the conference, averaged around 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists throughout the finals, but what struck me was his efficiency in crucial moments. Having watched numerous imports come and go in the PBA, I'd rank Brownlee's performance among the top three import showcases I've witnessed in the past decade.

The championship-clinching game itself contained several memorable sequences that I still discuss with fellow basketball enthusiasts. With about 6 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Meralco threatening to cut the lead to single digits, Thompson made a spectacular defensive play—stealing the ball near midcourt and finishing with a contested layup while drawing a foul. That three-point swing essentially sealed the championship, and the crowd's eruption remains one of the loudest I've experienced in person. Thompson, who would later be named the season's MVP, finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in Game 4, demonstrating why he's become such a complete player. From my perspective, his evolution from a defensive specialist to an all-around threat has been one of the most rewarding player development stories in recent PBA history.

What many casual observers might not appreciate is how challenging it is to win a Governors' Cup championship compared to the Philippine Cup. The import-laden conference requires teams to balance international talent with local chemistry, and Ginebra's management of this balance was masterful. While Brownlee rightfully received much of the attention, role players like LA Tenorio and Christian Standhardinger provided crucial contributions throughout the series. Tenorio's leadership in controlling the tempo during the third quarter of Game 4, when Meralco attempted their final significant push, was a textbook example of veteran poise under pressure. Having followed Tenorio's career since his Ateneo days, I'd argue this championship represented the pinnacle of his professional journey, adding another legendary chapter to his already impressive resume.

The aftermath of this championship continues to influence the PBA landscape today. When I look at how teams like TNT and San Miguel are currently approaching the Philippine Cup, I see organizations learning from Ginebra's blueprint—emphasizing continuity, developing role players, and making strategic import selections when applicable. The fact that TNT and San Miguel began their Philippine Cup campaign just months after Ginebra's Governors' Cup victory demonstrates the non-stop nature of PBA competition. Personally, I believe this constant cycle makes it difficult for teams to maintain championship-level performance across multiple conferences, which makes Ginebra's accomplishment even more impressive in retrospect.

Reflecting on that 2022 Governors' Cup championship, what stands out most isn't just the trophy presentation or the statistics, but how it reinforced Ginebra's cultural significance within Philippine basketball. The "Never Say Die" spirit wasn't just a slogan—it manifested in how the team responded to every Meralco run throughout the series. As someone who has followed the PBA for over fifteen years, I consider this particular championship among the most meaningful in recent memory because it represented the perfect convergence of talented personnel, strategic coaching, and unparalleled fan support. While new champions will inevitably emerge in future conferences, like the ongoing Philippine Cup featuring TNT and San Miguel, the 2022 Governors' Cup will remain a benchmark for how to build a championship team in the modern PBA era.