I still remember the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup like it was yesterday - the electric atmosphere in the arenas, the buzzer-beaters that had us jumping from our seats, and the sheer intensity that defined that particular tournament. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over two decades, I can confidently say this was one of the most memorable conferences in recent memory, blending international talent with homegrown heroes in ways we hadn't seen before. The tournament ran from March to July that year, featuring 12 teams battling through 98 elimination round games before reaching the playoffs, though I must admit I'd need to double-check those exact numbers in the official records.
What made this conference particularly fascinating was how it showcased different team-building philosophies, something that reminds me of the current trends we're seeing in women's volleyball. Looking at recent Alas teams that featured college standouts like Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Alyssa Solomon but didn't feature Fil-foreign stars like Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, or Tia Andaya and vice versa, it's clear that teams have to make strategic choices about their roster composition. Back in the 2017 Commissioner's Cup, we saw similar strategic decisions playing out, with teams weighing whether to build around their local core or rely more heavily on their imports. This balancing act created some of the most compelling basketball narratives of the year.
The first moment that still gives me chills was June Mar Fajardo's dominant performance against Ginebra in the semifinals. The Kraken put up 28 points and 18 rebounds in Game 3, completely controlling the paint against Greg Slaughter in what felt like a passing of the torch moment. I've always believed Fajardo was underrated in big games, but this series proved me wrong - he absolutely took over when it mattered most. The way he established position and finished through contact reminded everyone why he's a six-time MVP, though I might be off by one MVP count there.
Then there was Chris Ross's incredible championship series for San Miguel Beer. The guy averaged something like 15 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals throughout the finals, but numbers don't capture how he completely controlled the tempo of every game. I remember specifically Game 4 where he hit back-to-back three pointers in the final three minutes to seal the victory. His defense was equally spectacular - he had this knack for reading passing lanes that reminded me of a free safety in football. Honestly, I think Ross was the most underrated player that conference, and I'll stand by that opinion even today.
The import matchup between Arizona Reid and Charles Rhodes provided another layer of excitement. These two went at each other like heavyweight boxers every single game. Reid, playing for Hotshots, averaged around 32 points per game throughout the conference, while Rhodes countered with 28 points and 12 rebounds for San Miguel. Their Game 5 showdown featured 12 lead changes and was tied 8 different times - just incredible back-and-forth action. Personally, I always preferred Reid's finesse game to Rhodes's power approach, but both left everything on the court.
One moment that doesn't get talked about enough was Terrence Romeo's 42-point explosion against Alaska in the elimination round. The guy was absolutely unconscious, hitting contested three-pointers from everywhere on the court. I specifically remember one sequence where he hit four consecutive three-pointers in under two minutes - the arena just went completely berserk. While Romeo could be inconsistent at times, when he got hot like that, there was literally no stopping him. His performance that night was pure basketball artistry, and I feel privileged to have witnessed it live.
The championship-clinching Game 6 deserves its own recognition. San Miguel won 91-85 in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests. What many people forget is that they actually trailed by 9 points with just over 7 minutes remaining before mounting their comeback. The final three minutes featured three ties and two lead changes before San Miguel finally pulled away. I've never heard a crowd that loud - the noise was literally vibrating through the seats. That victory marked San Miguel's 24th PBA championship, if my memory serves me correctly, though I'd need to verify that number.
Reflecting on that tournament now, I realize how it set the template for modern PBA competitions. The strategic decisions teams made about balancing local talent and imports, the emergence of new stars alongside established veterans, and the sheer unpredictability of the outcomes - these elements created a perfect storm of basketball excellence. Much like the current debates in women's volleyball about whether to build around college standouts or Fil-foreign talents, the 2017 Commissioner's Cup showed there's no single right way to build a championship team. What matters most is how well the pieces fit together and how they perform when the lights are brightest. That's why, even years later, I still find myself rewatching highlights from that incredible tournament and marveling at the quality of basketball we were treated to.
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