Let me take you back to 2017, when the PBA All Filipino Cup delivered some of the most electrifying basketball moments I've witnessed in my years following Philippine basketball. As someone who's been analyzing regional coaching strategies for over a decade, I can confidently say that tournament was something special - it had that perfect blend of veteran wisdom and raw talent that makes Philippine basketball so uniquely compelling. I still find myself rewatching highlights from that season, and there are five moments that stand out not just for their immediate impact, but for how they've shaped the league's narrative since.
The championship series between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra was absolutely legendary - seven games of pure, unadulterated basketball drama that had fans like me on the edge of our seats for weeks. What made it particularly fascinating from my perspective was watching coaches Leo Austria and Tim Cone, two masters of their craft, constantly adjusting their strategies. I remember Game 7 specifically - June Mar Fajardo putting up 21 points and 18 rebounds while Greg Slaughter countered with 19 points of his own. The back-and-forth was incredible, but what really stood out to me was how Austria utilized Fajardo's dominance in the paint while Cone kept finding creative ways to get Slaughter open looks. When the final buzzer sounded with San Miguel winning 96-85, I knew we'd just witnessed something historic - the Beermen completing their third consecutive All-Filipino crown, a testament to their incredible roster depth and coaching consistency.
Then there was that unforgettable semifinals moment when Chris Ross recorded his fourth triple-double of the conference - 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists against Star Hotshots. I've always been particularly impressed by Ross's evolution in the PBA, and that game showcased why he's become such a vital piece for San Miguel. His defensive intensity completely disrupted Star's offensive flow, creating numerous fast-break opportunities that San Miguel capitalized on. From my analysis of game footage, what made Ross's performance so remarkable was his basketball IQ - he seemed to anticipate every pass, every rotation, every defensive breakdown before it even happened. That kind of instinctual play isn't something you can teach, and it's why I consider Ross one of the most underrated imports-turned-local players in recent memory.
The emergence of Matthew Wright as Phoenix's primary scorer was another highlight that caught my attention. I'd been tracking Wright's development since his college days, and watching him drop 35 points against TNT in the quarterfinals was simply breathtaking. His shooting form is technically perfect - high release, consistent follow-through, minimal wasted motion - and that night, he was absolutely unconscious from beyond the arc, hitting 7 three-pointers. What impressed me most wasn't just the scoring outburst though; it was how he created opportunities for his teammates, drawing double teams and making the right reads out of pick-and-roll situations. Wright's performance that tournament signaled his arrival as a legitimate star, and I remember thinking at the time that Philippine basketball had found its next great shooting guard.
One moment that doesn't get talked about enough, in my opinion, was Alaska's stunning upset of top-seeded TNT in the quarterfinals. The KaTropa had been dominant throughout the elimination round, finishing with an 8-3 record, while Alaska barely scraped into the playoffs at 6-5. But coach Alex Compton devised this brilliant defensive scheme that completely neutralized TNT's transition game, forcing them into half-court sets where they looked uncomfortable all night. I recall Calvin Abueva playing with this incredible energy - 18 points, 14 rebounds, and what felt like every 50-50 ball going his way. The final score of 96-79 didn't even reflect how thoroughly Alaska controlled that game, and it remains one of the best coaching performances I've seen in playoff basketball.
The fifth unforgettable moment takes me back to the elimination round clash between Ginebra and Star, where Scottie Thompson announced his arrival as a legitimate star. His stat line of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists only tells part of the story - it was the timing of his plays that really stood out. With Ginebra trailing by 5 with under three minutes left, Thompson grabbed two offensive rebounds on consecutive possessions, both leading to crucial baskets. Then he drew a charge on Paul Lee with 1:23 remaining that completely shifted the game's momentum. As someone who values the little things in basketball, I found Thompson's performance particularly satisfying because it showcased how impactful a player can be without necessarily being the primary scorer. His development since that game has been remarkable to watch, but that particular performance felt like his coming-out party.
Reflecting on these moments seven years later, what strikes me is how they've influenced the current PBA landscape. The coaching strategies we saw in 2017, particularly in how teams utilized their big men and defended the three-point line, have evolved but still bear the imprint of that tournament's innovations. The veteran leadership of players like Fajardo and the emergence of new stars created this perfect storm of basketball excellence that we haven't quite seen replicated since. Every time I watch current PBA games, I find myself comparing them to that 2017 All-Filipino Cup, which in my view represents the gold standard for what Philippine basketball can be - competitive, emotionally charged, and technically superb. These memories aren't just nostalgia; they're reminders of why we fell in love with the game in the first place, and why tournaments like the All-Filipino Cup continue to capture our imagination season after season.