I still get chills thinking about the 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup—that particular season was unlike any other in Philippine basketball history. Having followed the league since the early 90s, I can confidently say that this tournament had everything: dramatic upsets, breakout performances, and a championship series that kept us all on the edge of our seats. What made it especially memorable was how it showcased both veteran mastery and emerging talent, creating moments that would define careers and shape team legacies for years to come. The energy in the arenas was electric, and even watching from home, you could feel the significance of each game.
One moment that stands out vividly in my memory is Alaska's stunning comeback against San Miguel in the semifinals. They were down by 15 points with less than 6 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and most of us had written them off. But then Johnny Abarrientos just took over—his back-to-back steals and backcourt wizardry completely shifted the momentum. I remember thinking, "This is why they call him the Flying A." He finished that game with 28 points, 9 assists, and 5 steals, numbers that still impress me today. Alaska outscored San Miguel 22-4 in those final minutes, and the silence from the San Miguel fans was deafening. That game perfectly demonstrated why playoff basketball in the PBA is so unpredictable and thrilling.
The championship series between Alaska and Purefoods went the full distance, with Game 7 delivering one of the most intense battles I've ever witnessed. What many forget is how physical that final game was—there were 48 personal fouls called, and both teams were in the penalty with over 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Alaska's big men, particularly Timothy Coloso and Edward Juinio, played through foul trouble to contain Purefoods' dominant import, Lamont Strothers. Strothers still managed to put up 35 points, but Alaska's defense made him work for every single basket. The final score was 89-85, but that doesn't capture how back-and-forth those final minutes were. With 30 seconds left and Alaska up by just 2, Abarrientos hit that impossible floating jumper over Strothers that essentially sealed the game. I've watched that clip dozens of times, and it still amazes me how he created that shot out of nothing.
Looking back, what made this Commissioner's Cup special was how it launched several players into stardom while cementing the legacies of established veterans. Kenneth Duremdes' performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of spectacular—he averaged 22.3 points per game while shooting 48% from the field. Those numbers might not jump out at today's fans accustomed to higher scoring, but in the physical, defense-oriented style of late-90s PBA basketball, that was elite production. I've always believed Duremdes never got the full credit he deserved for how he carried that Alaska team when Abarrientos was having an off night. His mid-range game was practically unstoppable, and he had this uncanny ability to get to his spots regardless of who was defending him.
The import matchups that season were particularly fascinating. While Strothers was putting up huge numbers for Purefoods, Alaska's import, Devin Davis, brought a different kind of value with his defensive presence and rebounding. Davis averaged 14.2 rebounds per game throughout the tournament, including a crucial 18-rebound performance in Game 5 of the finals. I remember arguing with fellow fans at the time about which import was more valuable—the scorer or the defender. My position was always that Davis' impact, while less flashy, was more consistent and ultimately more important to Alaska's championship run. Defense wins championships, as they say, and Davis embodied that philosophy perfectly.
Reflecting on that season now, it's impossible not to draw parallels to modern PBA basketball. The game has evolved significantly since 1997—the pace is faster, the three-point shot is more emphasized, and the physicality has been somewhat tempered by rule changes. But what hasn't changed is the passion and the unpredictable nature of Commissioner's Cup basketball. That 1997 tournament set a standard for excitement and drama that subsequent conferences have struggled to match. I find myself comparing every new Commissioner's Cup to that 1997 classic, and while there have been great tournaments since, there's something about that particular season that remains special. Maybe it's nostalgia, or maybe it truly was peak PBA basketball—either way, those memories remain vivid more than two decades later.