Relive the Epic 1997 PBA Finals: Complete Game Highlights and Untold Stories

I still remember exactly where I was during that legendary 1997 PBA Finals - glued to my grandmother's old television set with the antenna needing occasional adjustment. The atmosphere was electric even through the screen, and honestly, I've been chasing that same basketball high ever since. What made that series between Gordon's Gin and Purefoods so unforgettable wasn't just the championship stakes, but the sheer drama that unfolded game after game. When I rewatch those complete game highlights today, certain moments still give me chills - particularly when Purefoods mounted that incredible comeback in Game 5 after being down by 15 points in the third quarter. The way they systematically dismantled Gordon's Gin's defense reminded me of something Tim Cone mentioned years later about international basketball: "Chinese Taipei shot very well from the 3 and tonight, they (Tall Blacks) shot very well from the 3. So that's something we've got to try to solve and get better at going to our next game and to the tournament." That same analytical approach to solving perimeter defense problems was exactly what we witnessed in that 1997 series, though the strategies were much simpler back then.

The three-point shooting in that series was revolutionary for its time, though the numbers would seem almost quaint by today's standards. Players like Vince Hizon were launching from what we'd now consider mid-range, but back then those were daring attempts that could shift momentum entirely. I recall counting maybe 12 three-point attempts total in Game 3 - a number that seems almost unbelievable when today's teams regularly take that many in a single quarter. The court felt different then, more congested, with defenses prioritizing paint protection over perimeter closeouts. What fascinates me rewatching those games is noticing how coaches adapted their defensive schemes game-to-game, something Cone's quote perfectly captures - that continuous adjustment to opponent's shooting strengths.

There's this one untold story I've always cherished about that series involving Marlou Aquino's pre-game rituals. Before each game, he'd reportedly eat exactly three pieces of banana cue from the same vendor outside the arena. Superstition or not, his dominant performances in the paint - I'd estimate he averaged around 18 points and 8 rebounds that series - made believers out of everyone. The big man dynamics between Aquino and Purefoods' Jerry Codinera created this fascinating chess match that modern analytics would probably break down into dozens of advanced metrics, but we appreciated it through simpler lenses back then - who could establish position better, who altered more shots, whose presence felt more intimidating.

What many younger fans might not realize is how different the physicality was permitted back then. The referees allowed contact that would warrant flagrant fouls today - I remember one particular sequence where at least four hard fouls occurred within two minutes without any technicals called. This created this brutal, grinding style that favored Gordon's Gin's more physical lineup. Yet Purefoods adapted beautifully, using quicker ball movement and what we'd now call "pace and space" principles to counteract the aggression. Watching those games today, I'm struck by how the coaches constantly tweaked strategies - much like Cone's emphasis on solving problems between games - with Gordon's Gin eventually implementing a more aggressive perimeter defense that reduced Purefoods' three-point percentage from roughly 42% in the first three games to about 31% in the final four contests.

The individual performances still stand out vividly in my memory. Bal David's heroic Game 6 performance where he played through what was later revealed to be a fractured finger on his shooting hand - scoring what I believe was 24 points despite the injury - embodies the toughness of that era. Meanwhile, Purefoods' Noy Castillo had this uncanny ability to hit clutch shots that consistently broke Gordon's Gin's momentum. These personal battles within the larger war created so many compelling subplots that the series felt like a dramatic miniseries unfolding before our eyes.

What gets lost in most highlight reels is the emotional rollercoaster both teams experienced. I'll never forget the image of a young Johnny Abarrientso weeping on the bench after fouling out of Game 7 - the raw emotion visible even through the grainy television broadcast. These weren't just athletes performing; they were individuals fully invested in every possession, every call, every momentum shift. The coaching staffs displayed their own emotional journeys too, with Gordon's Gin's coach visibly aged by the series' pressure - I swear he looked five years older by the final buzzer.

The legacy of that 1997 finals extends far beyond the championship trophy. It influenced how Philippine basketball approached the three-point shot, defensive adjustments, and even player development. When I watch modern PBA games with their analytical approach to spacing and shot selection, I see echoes of that pivotal series. The lessons from those games - about adaptation, about solving strategic problems between matches, about emotional resilience - resonate through Cone's later reflections on international play. That continuous improvement mindset he described was already present in embryonic form during those 1997 finals, just waiting for the basketball world to catch up to its importance.