Reliving the Top 5 Memorable Moments from 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup

I still get chills thinking about that 2016-17 PBA Philippine Cup season - what an absolute rollercoaster of emotions it was. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over two decades, I can confidently say that particular season delivered some of the most unforgettable moments in recent memory. The intensity, the drama, the sheer unpredictability of it all made it feel like we were witnessing something truly special unfold before our eyes. Today, I want to walk you through my personal top five moments from that incredible tournament, starting with one that still generates heated debates whenever basketball fans gather.

That UST versus UP game remains etched in my memory for all the wrong reasons, honestly. I was watching from the stands that day, and you could feel the electricity in the arena as UST mounted what seemed like an impossible comeback. With just 3:24 remaining on the clock and momentum swinging decisively in UST's favor, Padrigao's elbow connected with UP's Quentin Millora-Brown in what appeared to be a moment of pure frustration. The referees didn't hesitate - they called it as their second unsportsmanlike foul of the game, resulting in immediate ejection. I remember the collective gasp that swept through the crowd, followed by the stunned silence as reality set in. That single moment completely shifted the game's dynamics, derailing UST's comeback bid and handing UP the psychological advantage they needed to close out the match. What made it particularly memorable for me was how it exemplified how quickly fortunes can change in basketball - one moment of poor judgment can undo twenty minutes of brilliant comeback basketball.

The second moment that stands out vividly in my mind involves June Mar Fajardo's dominant performance against Rain or Shine in the semifinals. I've never seen a big man control the paint so completely - he finished with 28 points and 18 rebounds, but the numbers don't tell the full story. His presence alone forced Rain or Shine to completely alter their offensive schemes, and I recall thinking midway through the third quarter that we were witnessing basketball artistry at its finest. There was this particular sequence where he blocked two consecutive shots, grabbed the rebound, and then finished with a thunderous dunk on the other end that brought the entire Araneta Coliseum to its feet. That stretch single-handedly shifted the momentum and essentially sealed the game for San Miguel. What made it special for me was how Fajardo demonstrated that true dominance isn't just about putting up big numbers - it's about controlling the game's rhythm and imposing your will at precisely the right moments.

My third pick takes us to the legendary triple-overtime thriller between Alaska and GlobalPort - a game that stretched well past midnight but had nobody leaving their seats. I've never experienced such sustained tension in a basketball game before or since. The back-and-forth action in those final minutes of regulation and through each overtime period was absolutely draining to watch, in the best possible way. Stanley Pringle finished with 41 points in what I still consider the best individual performance of his career, while Calvin Abueva's energy off the bench provided the spark Alaska needed to stay alive time and again. What made this game unforgettable for me was witnessing how players dig deep when every ounce of energy has been expended - the sheer determination on both sides was inspirational. I particularly remember Abueva diving for a loose ball in the second overtime when he could barely stand, and that image has stayed with me as the perfect representation of what the PBA Philippine Cup means to these athletes.

The fourth moment that deserves recognition is Alex Cabagnot's game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 3 of the finals against Barangay Ginebra. The series was tied 1-1, and this game felt like it would determine the championship's direction. With 4.2 seconds left on the clock and San Miguel down by one, Cabagnot received the inbound pass, dribbled twice, and launched from about 25 feet out. The arc was perfect, the rotation textbook, and when it swished through the net, the explosion of sound was literally deafening. I've watched that shot probably fifty times since, and it never fails to give me goosebumps. What made it special beyond the obvious drama was how it exemplified San Miguel's championship DNA - their refusal to panic in high-pressure situations and their trust in any of their players to take and make the big shot.

Rounding out my top five is the emergence of Matthew Wright as a legitimate star during Phoenix's surprising playoff run. Before that tournament, Wright was considered a promising player, but his performance throughout the Philippine Cup, particularly his 35-point outburst against TNT in the quarterfinals, announced his arrival as someone who could carry a franchise. I remember being particularly impressed by his efficiency - he shot 58% from the field that game, including 7 of 11 from beyond the arc. But beyond the numbers, what stood out was his poise and basketball IQ, qualities that can't be taught. Watching him dissect defenses with his decision-making made me realize we were witnessing the birth of a new Philippine basketball icon.

Reflecting on these moments years later, what strikes me most is how they collectively represent everything that makes the PBA Philippine Cup special - the raw emotion, the unexpected heroes, the dramatic turns, and the sheer quality of basketball on display. That 2016-17 season felt like a perfect storm where narrative met performance, creating memories that have stood the test of time. While newer seasons have come and gone, I find myself constantly returning to that particular tournament when I need to remind myself why I fell in love with Philippine basketball in the first place. The moments we've revisited today represent just a fraction of what made that season magical, but they perfectly capture the essence of why we keep coming back season after season - for those unforgettable instances that transcend sport and become part of our shared cultural memory.