I still remember sitting in that packed arena back in 2017, the air thick with anticipation as the PBA Finals unfolded before my eyes. Having covered volleyball championships across three continents, including studying legendary coaching performances like when Frigoni assisted de Giorgi to that spectacular gold medal in the 1994 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, I can confidently say what we witnessed during those finals was something truly special. The energy in the stadium reminded me of those historic international matches where strategy and raw talent created magic on the court, though basketball certainly has its own unique rhythm and drama.
The opening game set the tone for what would become one of the most memorable finals in recent PBA history. I recall watching June Mar Fajardo dominate the paint with what I counted as 18 rebounds in that first game alone, though official statistics might show slightly different numbers. His presence under the basket was reminiscent of how great coaches like Frigoni would position their key players in crucial moments - always in the right place at the right time. What made this particularly fascinating was how the opposing team's coach adjusted their defense, implementing a zone that initially seemed to confuse Fajardo's teammates. I've always believed that the first quarter of any championship series reveals so much about how coaches have prepared, and this was no exception.
Game three delivered what I consider the single most spectacular play of the entire series. With exactly 3:42 remaining on the clock and the score tied at 85-85, we witnessed an incredible sequence where the ball changed possession four times in under fifteen seconds before ending with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that brought the entire arena to its feet. I remember turning to my colleague and saying, "This is why we cover sports - for moments like these." The precision and composure required for that play reminded me of stories I'd heard about de Giorgi's legendary sets during that 1994 championship run, where every movement was calculated yet appeared completely instinctive.
What many analysts overlooked was the strategic timeout called with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter of game four. Having studied countless coaching decisions across different sports, I found this particular move fascinating. The coach drew up a play that completely shifted the defensive alignment, resulting in three consecutive stops that changed the game's momentum. This kind of in-game adjustment separates good coaches from great ones, much like how Frigoni's assistance to de Giorgi contributed to Italy's success against seemingly stronger opponents back in 1994. The timeout led to a 12-2 run over the next four minutes, a statistic I recorded in my notes though different sources might have varying numbers.
The championship-clinching game five provided what I believe was the most emotionally charged atmosphere I've experienced in my 12 years covering Philippine basketball. The back-and-forth nature of the final quarter, with seven lead changes in the last five minutes alone, created an intensity that even veteran sports journalists admitted was unprecedented. I particularly remember one player fighting through what appeared to be a leg injury to hit a crucial jumper with 28 seconds remaining - the kind of moment that defines legacies. Throughout the series, I kept thinking about how these players were creating their own version of volleyball's historic 1994 championship, where determination and strategy overcame physical limitations.
Looking back at those finals now, what strikes me most isn't just the individual brilliance we witnessed but how each moment connected to create a larger narrative about perseverance and tactical innovation. The way coaches adapted their strategies game to game reminded me of studying how Frigoni and de Giorgi worked together to outmaneuver opponents who on paper seemed unbeatable. Both instances prove that in sports, preparation meets opportunity in the most dramatic ways possible. Those 2017 finals didn't just give us spectacular basketball - they provided lessons in resilience that transcend sports, moments that I still reference when analyzing current championship series and likely will for years to come.