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Relive the Top 5 Most Exciting Games from PBA Philippine Cup 2018 Season
I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2018 PBA Philippine Cup season - it feels like just yesterday I was glued to my screen watching those nail-biting finishes. You know how in volleyball they're always finalizing rosters and doing those preliminary inquiries? Well, the PBA had its own version of roster dramas that year, but what really stood out were the games that kept us all on the edge of our seats. Let me walk you through my personal top five picks from that unforgettable season.
First up has to be that classic Barangay Ginebra versus San Miguel showdown during the semifinals. I remember watching this game at a packed sports bar where you could literally feel the tension in the air. The game went into double overtime - 58 minutes of pure basketball magic. LA Tenorio was absolutely phenomenal that night, scoring 28 points including that clutch three-pointer with just 12 seconds left in the second overtime. What made it special wasn't just the skill on display, but the raw emotion - you could see how much every possession meant to these players. It's the kind of game that reminds you why we love sports - that unpredictable drama that no scripted entertainment can ever match.
Then there was that incredible comeback by Rain or Shine against TNT. Honestly, I had almost turned off the TV when they were down by 18 points in the third quarter. But basketball games aren't won on paper - they're won on the court. James Yap turned back the clock that day, scoring 22 of his 30 points in the final quarter. The energy shift was palpable even through the screen - you could see the momentum swinging with every basket. Games like this make me appreciate how roster depth matters - it's not just about star players, but about having that reliable sixth man who can change the game's complexion.
My personal favorite was the Alaska-TerraFirma matchup that most people had written off as a predictable game. See, that's why they play the games instead of just reading the stats sheets. Alaska was trailing by 15 with just six minutes remaining when something clicked. I've never seen a defensive effort quite like what they displayed in those final minutes - forcing 8 turnovers and going on a 20-2 run to close the game. The coaching adjustments during that stretch were masterful, proving that games can be won through strategic timeouts and defensive schemes just as much as through spectacular shooting.
The quarterfinal game between Magnolia and NLEX deserves its spot too - mainly because of that incredible individual performance by Paul Lee. He dropped 35 points while playing 42 minutes, and what amazed me wasn't just the scoring but his efficiency - 12 of 18 from the field, 7 of 10 from three-point range. Sometimes you just witness a player enter that magical zone where every shot seems destined to go in, and that night was Lee's masterpiece. I've always believed that individual brilliance can elevate team sports, and this game was the perfect example.
Rounding out my list is the Phoenix-Meralco encounter that featured 18 lead changes and 9 ties. The back-and-forth nature of this game was exhausting to watch in the best possible way - just when you thought one team had momentum, the other would respond. Matthew Wright's game-winning floater as time expired wasn't just skill - it was the culmination of 48 minutes of strategic chess match between two well-coached teams. These are the games that stick with you years later - the ones where neither team deserves to lose, but basketball, like life, demands a winner.
Looking back, what made the 2018 Philippine Cup special wasn't just these individual games, but how they collectively represented the heart and soul of Philippine basketball. Much like how volleyball teams finalize their 32-player rosters after careful consideration, each of these games featured carefully crafted strategies and roster decisions that paid off in dramatic fashion. The beauty of sports lies in these unscripted moments that become permanent memories for fans like me - and honestly, writing about them now makes me want to go back and rewatch every single one.