Relive the Epic 1997 PBA Finals: Complete Game Highlights and Untold Stories
I still get chills thinking about that legendary 1997 PBA Finals series between Alaska and Gordon's Gin. You know, as someone who's been analyzing basketball strategies for over two decades now, I've always believed that particular championship run fundamentally changed how Philippine basketball approached the three-point shot. What most fans remember are the dramatic game-winners and heroic performances, but what fascinates me even more are the strategic adjustments that unfolded behind the scenes - the kind of tactical evolution that reminds me of Coach Tim Cone's recent comments about international competition.
I was rewatching the complete game highlights from that epic finals just last week, and something struck me differently this time around. The way both teams strategically utilized the three-point line was actually quite revolutionary for that era. While today's game sees teams routinely launching 30+ threes per game, back in 1997, Gordon's Gin was attempting what was then considered an aggressive 18-22 three-pointers per game. What made their approach special wasn't just the volume though - it was their precision in selecting which players got those green lights. They had this incredible balance between interior dominance and perimeter shooting that kept Alaska's defense constantly guessing. I've always preferred teams that maintain that kind of offensive balance rather than going all-in on either paint scoring or three-point barrage.
The real turning point in that series came when Alaska started solving Gordon's Gin's three-point puzzle. See, this is where Cone's recent observations about the Tall Blacks' shooting performance resonate so strongly. He mentioned how "Chinese Taipei shot very well from the 3 and tonight, they 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." That exact same challenge faced Alaska in 1997 - they were getting torched by Gordon's Gin's perimeter shooting, particularly from their secondary scorers who were hitting at what I recall was around 42% through the first three games. The numbers might be slightly off since we're relying on older statistics, but the pattern was undeniable - Alaska's defensive schemes were leaving just enough space for quality shooters to get comfortable looks.
What impressed me most was how Alaska's coaching staff developed what I consider one of the most innovative defensive adjustments of that decade. Instead of completely abandoning their base defense, they implemented what I'd call "selective closeouts" - they identified which shooters needed to be run off the line versus which ones they could live with taking contested threes. This nuanced approach preserved their interior defense while gradually reducing Gordon's Gin's three-point percentage from that blistering 42% down to about 34% by the series' end. Personally, I've always believed this kind of tailored defensive strategy beats blanket approaches every time. Teams that try to take away everything usually end up defending nothing particularly well.
The solutions Alaska implemented went beyond just defensive tactics though. They made two crucial offensive adjustments that I think modern teams could still learn from today. First, they started deliberately attacking Gordon's Gin's best shooters on the other end, forcing them into defensive situations that drained their legs and affected their shooting rhythm. Second, they controlled the tempo in a way that limited transition three opportunities - Gordon's Gin's most efficient shooting scenario. Through my own analysis of that series, I estimated they reduced Gordon's Gin's transition three-point attempts from about 6-7 per game down to just 2-3 in the final games. That's the kind of specific, measurable improvement that wins championships.
Looking back at reliving the epic 1997 PBA finals through both the complete game highlights and untold strategic stories, what stands out isn't just the raw athleticism or dramatic moments, but the intellectual battle happening between the coaching staffs. That series taught me that solving a three-point shooting problem isn't about completely eliminating threes - it's about controlling the context and quality of those attempts. Cone's modern challenge with international teams facing hot-shooting opponents echoes exactly what Alaska conquered in 1997. The principles remain timeless even as the game evolves - identify the shooting threats, disrupt their rhythm without overcommitting defensive resources, and make them work on the other end. Those finals didn't just determine a champion - they provided a blueprint for defensive adaptation that I still reference when analyzing today's game.
