Relive the Most Exciting Moments From PBA Slam 2017 Championship

I still get chills thinking about that final quarter in the 2017 PBA Slam Championship. Even now, years later, when I rewatch the game footage with fellow basketball enthusiasts, we all agree there was something truly magical about those closing minutes. The energy in the Smart Araneta Coliseum was absolutely electric - you could feel the tension radiating from every seat in that 16,000-capacity arena.

What made this championship particularly memorable was the incredible showdown between veteran players and rising stars. I remember watching Dimaunahan and Abong's final moments unfold, and even from my seat high up in the stands, I could sense the raw emotion on the court. Dimaunahan recently admitted in an interview that he still gets goosebumps recounting those final moments with Abong, and honestly, I completely understand why. There was this palpable connection between them during those crucial plays that transcended typical team dynamics. The way they moved together, anticipating each other's actions - it was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance at the most critical moment of the game.

The statistics from that game still impress me to this day. Abong finished with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Dimaunahan contributed 24 points with an incredible 65% shooting accuracy from the field. But numbers alone can't capture what made that game special. It was the way Dimaunahan's three-pointer at the 2:14 mark seemed to hang in the air forever before swishing through the net, the collective gasp from the crowd, and the way Abong immediately followed up with that steal and fast break that essentially sealed the game. I've attended numerous PBA championships over the years, but that sequence of events remains burned into my memory like it happened yesterday.

What many casual viewers might not realize is how much strategy went into those final moments. Coach Tim Cone's decision to keep both Dimaunahan and Abong on the floor during the last five minutes was considered risky by many analysts at the time. The team was down by 4 points with 3:47 remaining, and conventional wisdom would have suggested different substitutions. But Cone trusted his players' chemistry, and boy did that pay off. The two combined for 15 points in the final four minutes alone, completely shifting the momentum and ultimately securing the championship with that 98-95 victory.

Looking back, I believe the 2017 PBA Slam Championship represented a turning point in how modern Philippine basketball is played. The emphasis on backcourt chemistry, the trust in veteran players during clutch situations, and the sheer will to win displayed by both teams set a new standard for what fans expect from professional basketball in the country. Even now, when I discuss classic PBA moments with younger fans, this championship always comes up in conversation. There's just something about those final moments between Dimaunahan and Abong that captures the essence of why we love this sport - the human drama, the incredible skill, and those goosebump-inducing moments that stay with you long after the final buzzer sounds.