Reliving the Epic 1997 PBA Finals: Top 10 Unforgettable Moments and Game Highlights
The scent of sweat and polished hardwood always takes me back. I was just a kid then, squeezed between my father and uncle on those cramped bleachers at the Araneta Coliseum, but the electricity of that 1997 PBA Finals between Gordon’s Gin and Purefoods is a feeling that’s never left me. It was more than a game; it was a seven-episode war that defined an era of Philippine basketball. I can still feel the vibration of the crowd, a low hum of anticipation that would erupt into a deafening roar at a moment's notice. We were there for Game 5, the series tied 2-2, the entire season hanging in the balance. That’s the thing about legendary series—they aren’t just a collection of plays, they are a mosaic of human emotion, of desperation and triumph. And as I sit here now, decades later, it feels like the right time to start reliving the epic 1997 PBA Finals, pulling from memory my personal top 10 unforgettable moments and game highlights.
It all started, as these things often do, with a shot that defied belief. I’m talking, of course, about that Johnny Abarrientos buzzer-beater in Game 1. The "Flying A" wasn't known for his three-point shooting, but with the clock ticking down and Gordon's Gin down by two, he launched a prayer from way, way downtown. The arc of that ball seemed to hang in the humid air for an eternity before it ripped through the net. The silence that followed for a split second, a collective intake of breath from 18,000 people, was immediately shattered by pure bedlam. My uncle grabbed my shoulder so hard it hurt, screaming, "He did it! The midget did it!" That single shot, a 28-foot dagger, set the tone for the entire series. It told everyone that this wasn't going to be a conventional battle; it was going to be a highlight reel from start to finish.
The series had everything: the strategic genius of Tim Cone coaching Gordon's Gin, the raw power of Purefoods’ Alvin Patrimonio, and the sheer will of both teams refusing to back down. I remember Game 3, where Patrimonio just put the team on his back, scoring 38 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. He was an unstoppable force in the paint, a bull in a china shop with a soft touch. But for every Patrimonio masterpiece, Gordon's Gin had an answer, often from Marlou Aquino. The "Skyscraper's" defensive presence was immense. He had this one sequence in Game 4 where he blocked two consecutive shots from Patrimonio, a statement of defiance that swung the momentum. Watching those titans clash was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance of brutality and finesse.
Which brings me to a more modern parallel, something that struck me while watching a recent FIBA game. I heard a coach’s post-game comment that echoed the very tactical dilemma of that '97 finals. Coach Tim Cone, now with Gilas Pilipinas, once said after a tough loss, "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 sentiment, that urgent need to solve the puzzle of the three-point shot, was exactly what Purefoods was grappling with against Gordon's Gin. While not a three-point heavy team by today's standards, Gordon's Gin had players like Vince Hizon who could get hot and stretch the floor in crucial moments, forcing Purefoods to adjust their defensive schemes on the fly. It’s a timeless basketball problem, isn't it? How do you stop a team when they're just feeling it from deep?
The drama wasn't confined to the stars, either. One of my favorite moments from my personal top 10 list is a gritty, almost forgotten play from Game 6. It was a loose ball scramble in the fourth quarter, with Gordon's Gin clinging to a fragile 3-point lead. Both teams dove on the floor, a tangle of limbs and desperation. It was Bal David, "The Flash," who emerged from the pile, his jersey stained with sweat, clutching the ball like a lifeline. He didn't score from it, but he secured the possession that ultimately led to a crucial basket. That play symbolized the heart of that Gordon's Gin team—they were simply relentless. They wanted it more, or at least, that’s how it felt from the stands. I remember turning to my dad and saying, "They're not going to lose. They can't." The final game, Game 7, was almost an anticlimax after that. Gordon's Gin, fueled by that accumulated momentum and the leadership of Abarrientos, won 88-79, sealing their place in history. The confetti falling, the players embracing, the sheer exhaustion and elation on their faces—it’s a mental photograph I’ll always cherish. Reliving the epic 1997 PBA Finals isn't just about nostalgia; it's a reminder of why we fell in love with the game in the first place. It was raw, it was emotional, and it was, without a doubt, one of the greatest spectacles Philippine basketball has ever produced.
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