I still get chills thinking about that 2016 PBA Philippine Cup Finals – what an absolute masterpiece of basketball theater. Having followed the league for over a decade now, I can confidently say that series between the San Miguel Beermen and Alaska Aces represented Philippine basketball at its finest. The sheer drama, the momentum swings, the individual brilliance – it's the kind of championship that sticks with you for years. What made it particularly fascinating from my perspective was how it transformed our understanding of what championship teams could look like under pressure.
I remember watching Game 1 thinking Alaska might just run away with the whole thing. They came out with that trademark Ulsa intensity, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. The Aces took that opener 100-91, and honestly, most of us in the press box were wondering if San Miguel's championship window had closed. Then came Game 2, where we saw something special starting to brew. Alex Cabagnot began finding his rhythm, but what really caught my eye was how Ronald Cruz started impacting the game in ways that didn't always show up in the basic stat sheet. Cruz has looked comfortable creating plays for his teammates over the past couple of games – even running the point guard position for the Beermen at times deep in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs. This versatility became San Miguel's secret weapon when they needed it most.
When June Mar Fajardo went down with that knee injury in Game 2, the entire complexion of the series changed instantly. Losing a two-time MVP would typically be a death sentence in a championship series, especially against a team as disciplined as Alaska. I've never seen a team respond to adversity quite like San Miguel did. Instead of folding, they somehow became more dangerous. Arwind Santos transformed into this unstoppable force, putting up 13 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3 while playing out of position at center. What impressed me most was how different players kept stepping up at different moments – it was like watching a relay race where everyone understood exactly when to take the baton.
The turning point came in Game 5, with the series tied 2-2. Alaska was up by 11 points with under three minutes left in regulation. Under normal circumstances, that's a guaranteed victory in professional basketball. But what followed was perhaps the most incredible comeback I've witnessed live. Chris Ross hit back-to-back three-pointers that just sucked the air right out of the Mall of Asia Arena. The defensive intensity San Miguel displayed in those final minutes was simply breathtaking – they forced three critical turnovers that completely shifted the momentum. When Cabagnot hit that game-winning jumper in overtime, the building absolutely erupted. That 88-86 victory wasn't just a win – it felt like San Miguel had stolen Alaska's soul.
Game 6 provided the perfect ending to this basketball epic. With their backs against the wall, Alaska came out firing and built an early 15-point lead. But San Miguel had that championship DNA that just wouldn't quit. What stood out to me was how they systematically chipped away at the deficit, never panicking, always trusting their system. Santos delivered another monster performance with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Marcio Lassiter contributed 15 points on efficient shooting. The final score of 96-89 doesn't fully capture how dominant San Miguel was down the stretch – they outscored Alaska 32-18 in the fourth quarter, which is just unheard of in a closeout game.
Looking back, what made this championship so special wasn't just the comeback from 0-3 down in the series or overcoming Fajardo's injury. It was how San Miguel redefined resilience in real time. They won this title with what I'd call "positionless basketball" before it became a mainstream concept. Cruz playing point guard, Santos at center, Ross transforming into a two-way threat – they constantly broke conventional wisdom about how championships are won. The numbers still amaze me: five players averaged double figures in scoring during the series, they shot 42% from three-point range as a team in the clinching game, and they outrebounded Alaska by an average of 4.5 boards per game despite being undersized for most of the series.
Eight years later, I still find myself revisiting highlights from that series whenever I need reminding why I fell in love with this sport. It had everything – individual brilliance, tactical innovation, emotional storytelling, and that raw, unfiltered passion that makes Philippine basketball unique. While statistics can tell part of the story – Santos averaging 16.8 points and 11.2 rebounds for the series, Cabagnot's 15.3 points per game, Ross's 3.2 steals per game – what the numbers can't capture is the heart and soul these players poured into every possession. That 2016 San Miguel team didn't just win a championship – they created a blueprint for overcoming impossible odds that I still reference when analyzing underdog stories today.