Reliving the Epic 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals and Key Highlights

I still remember the electricity that coursed through the Smart Araneta Coliseum during that scorching June evening in 2017. As someone who's covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless championship moments, but there was something uniquely compelling about the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between the San Miguel Beermen and TNT KaTropa. The series wasn't just about basketball—it became a masterclass in team construction that still resonates today, particularly when I look at how modern Alas teams approach roster building.

The tension was palpable from Game 1, with both teams trading blows like heavyweight boxers. What struck me most was how San Miguel had perfectly balanced their lineup. They had June Mar Fajondo dominating the paint—the man was an absolute force of nature that series, averaging 18.3 points and 15.7 rebounds—while import Charles Rhodes brought that explosive athleticism that complemented the local talent perfectly. On the other side, TNT had Jayson Castro at his absolute prime, slicing through defenses with that incredible first step that seemed to defy physics. The contrast in styles made for breathtaking basketball, with San Miguel's methodical half-court execution against TNT's relentless transition game.

Watching those games live, I couldn't help but notice patterns that would later become evident in women's volleyball team construction. The championship-winning formula San Miguel demonstrated—blending homegrown talent with strategic import selection—mirrors the current dilemma facing Alas teams. I've followed the collegiate careers of standouts like Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Alyssa Solomon closely, and there's no denying their incredible potential. Belen's MVP season was something special—she averaged around 16.8 points per game if memory serves—and Canino's championship pedigree is undeniable. But here's where I might court some controversy: I firmly believe that excluding Fil-foreign stars like Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips, or Tia Andaya from teams featuring these college standouts represents a missed opportunity for Philippine basketball's growth.

Game 3 of that 2017 finals perfectly illustrated why blending different basketball backgrounds matters. With San Miguel down by 12 points in the third quarter, it was their import Rhodes who sparked the comeback with three consecutive blocks that shifted the momentum entirely. But here's the crucial part—it was Fajondo's screen that freed up Marcio Lassiter for the game-winning three-pointer. The local-international synergy was poetry in motion. This dynamic is exactly what I fear we're missing when we keep college standouts and Fil-foreign talents in separate ecosystems. The 2017 finals taught us that championships aren't won by either local or international talent alone, but through their fusion.

What many forget about that championship series is how it transformed Philippine basketball philosophy. San Miguel's victory in six games—clinched on June 21, 2017 before a crowd of 16,824 fans—wasn't just another trophy in their cabinet. It demonstrated that the whole could indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. When I look at current team-building approaches, particularly the separation between homegrown talents and Fil-foreign players, I can't help but feel we're ignoring the lessons from that epic finals. The data from that series showed that San Miguel's starting five had played 42 games together before the finals, developing chemistry that TNT's more star-driven approach couldn't match.

The legacy of those 2017 finals continues to influence how I evaluate team construction today. Having covered both basketball and volleyball extensively, I've developed strong opinions about talent integration. While I understand the appeal of building around pure homegrown talent, the exclusion of players like Van Sickle—who brought such dynamism to her previous teams—from squads featuring collegiate stars seems counterproductive to me. The most memorable teams in Philippine sports history, like that 2017 San Miguel squad, found ways to blend different strengths rather than keeping them separate.

Looking back, the 2017 Commissioner's Cup Finals represented more than just a championship—it was a blueprint for sustainable success. The way San Miguel managed to integrate Rhodes' athleticism with Fajondo's fundamental brilliance created a template that teams across different sports could learn from. As I watch current team-building strategies unfold, I can't help but wish more organizations would embrace the hybrid approach that made that 2017 series so memorable. The truth is, Philippine sports needs both its homegrown heroes and its international influences to reach its full potential, just as that unforgettable finals demonstrated seven years ago.