Relive the Epic 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals and Championship Highlights
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I still get chills thinking about that legendary 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. Having followed Philippine basketball for over two decades now, I can confidently say that series between Gordon's Gin and Alaska Milk remains the gold standard for championship basketball in this country. What made it particularly special wasn't just the star power or the dramatic moments—it was how both teams completely transformed their identities to reach that pinnacle.
Gordon's Gin entered the season with something to prove after several disappointing campaigns. I remember watching them during the elimination round and thinking they had talent but lacked cohesion. Coach Robert Jaworski worked miracles with that roster, blending veterans like Marlou Aquino and Noli Locsin with emerging talents. Their semifinal series against San Miguel was an absolute war—they won Game 5 by just three points in what I consider one of the most physical basketball games I've ever witnessed. The numbers still stick with me: Aquino averaged 18.3 points and 9.7 rebounds throughout the playoffs, while Locsin provided that relentless energy off the bench that often swung momentum.
Meanwhile, Alaska was building what would become one of the most dominant teams in PBA history. Coach Tim Cone's triangle offense was just beginning to click, and you could see the pieces falling into place. Johnny Abarrientos was at his absolute peak during that conference—his quickness and basketball IQ made him nearly unguardable. I've always maintained that the 1997 version of Abarrientos was the best point guard we've seen in the PBA, and his stats back that up: 16.8 points, 7.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game in the finals alone. Their path to the championship round included sweeping Purefoods in four games, which nobody saw coming given how strong that Purefoods roster looked on paper.
The finals themselves were a masterpiece of contrasting styles. Gordon's Gin played with that classic Jaworski heart-on-the-sleeve intensity, while Alaska executed with mechanical precision. Game 1 set the tone—Alaska won by eight points, but what I remember most was the fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Gordon's that fell just short. That pattern would repeat throughout the series: Alaska building leads, Gordon's mounting furious rallies, and the outcome hanging in balance until the final possessions. Game 3 particularly stands out in my memory—Gordon's won 101-99 in overtime after Aquino blocked a potential game-winning shot by Alaska's import at the buzzer. The crowd at Araneta Coliseum that night was absolutely electric, one of those environments where you could feel the energy through your television screen.
What often gets overlooked in discussions about this series is the coaching chess match between Jaworski and Cone. Jaworski's emotional, motivational approach versus Cone's systematic, detail-oriented style created fascinating tactical battles. I've rewatched those games multiple times, and each viewing reveals new layers to their strategic adjustments. Cone would make a substitution pattern to counter Gordon's size advantage, then Jaworski would respond by going small to create mismatches. It was basketball artistry at its finest.
The championship-clinching Game 6 deserves its own chapter in PBA lore. Alaska led by 12 points with under six minutes remaining, but Gordon's mounted one final characteristic comeback, cutting the lead to two with 45 seconds left. Then came the sequence that still gives me goosebumps: Abarrientos drove, drew the defense, and kicked to a wide-open Jojo Lastimosa for the game-sealing three-pointer. That play exemplified everything about that Alaska team—patience, trust in the system, and flawless execution under pressure. The final score was 89-83, but the margin doesn't capture how tightly contested those final minutes were.
Looking back after all these years, what strikes me most about that 1997 Commissioner's Cup is how it represented a turning point for the PBA. The league was transitioning from the physical, bruising style of the early 90s to a more sophisticated, system-oriented approach. Alaska's victory signaled that team concepts could triumph over individual talent, while Gordon's Gin demonstrated that heart and determination still mattered. Both teams paved the way for modern PBA basketball in their own ways, and their breakthrough finals appearances weren't just flukes—they were the result of organizational vision and cultural building.
I've often wondered what would have happened if Gordon's had managed to force a Game 7. Would momentum have carried them to an upset victory? We'll never know, but that uncertainty is part of what makes this series so enduring. Even now, when I discuss great PBA moments with fellow fans, the 1997 Commissioner's Cup consistently comes up as the benchmark for dramatic, high-quality basketball. The legacy of that series continues to influence how teams are built and how championships are won in the Philippines, proving that some basketball moments truly are timeless.