Relive the Top 5 Most Exciting Moments from 2015 PBA Governors Cup Finals

I still get chills thinking about that 2015 PBA Governors' Cup Finals - what an absolute rollercoaster of emotions that series turned out to be. As someone who's covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I can confidently say that particular championship series stands out as one of the most dramatic and physically demanding finals I've ever witnessed. The sheer intensity from both teams created moments that have become part of PBA folklore, and even now, eight years later, fans still talk about those pivotal instances that decided the championship.

Let me take you back to that incredible Game 4 moment when Alaska's Calvin Abueva made that game-saving block against San Miguel's AZ Reid in the final seconds. The score was tied at 78-78 with about 15 seconds remaining, and Reid drove to the basket looking for what could have been the go-ahead basket. Abueva came out of nowhere, timed his jump perfectly, and swatted the ball away with such force that it practically flew to the third row. What made it even more spectacular was how Abueva immediately recovered the ball and called timeout, setting up Alaska's final play. I remember jumping out of my seat watching that live - it was one of those defensive plays that just changes the entire momentum of a series. Alaska would go on to win that game 82-78, and honestly, without that block, we might be talking about a very different championship outcome.

Then there was Game 6, which featured what I consider the most heartbreaking moment of the series - June Mar Fajardo suffering that ankle injury that looked absolutely devastating. I've seen my fair share of basketball injuries over the years, but the way his ankle snapped almost instantly upon landing made me genuinely concerned about his career. It could've easily been a career-ending injury based on the gruesome optics of how her ankle snapped almost instantly upon landing on the floor. The arena went completely silent, and you could see the concern on every player's face, regardless of which team they were on. Fajardo had been averaging 18.7 points and 12.3 rebounds up to that point in the series, and losing him should have been catastrophic for San Miguel. What happened next still amazes me - instead of collapsing without their star center, San Miguel somehow rallied and won that game 100-89, forcing a Game 7 that nobody expected after that injury.

The series-winning shot in Game 7 by Arizona Reid deserves its own chapter in PBA history books. With just 3.2 seconds left on the clock and San Miguel down by one point, Reid received the inbound pass, took two dribbles to his left, and launched a contested three-pointer over two defenders. The ball seemed to hang in the air forever before swishing through the net as the buzzer sounded. I've never heard a stadium erupt like that - the sheer explosion of noise was almost physical. Reid finished with 38 points that game, but that final three-pointer will forever be the moment people remember. What made it even more impressive was that he'd been playing through a groin injury that limited his mobility throughout the fourth quarter, yet he still had enough in the tank to make that incredible shot when it mattered most.

Let's not forget Chris Ross's defensive masterclass throughout the entire series, particularly his 8-steal performance in Game 2 that completely disrupted Alaska's offensive flow. Ross was everywhere that night, reading passing lanes like he had the playbook memorized and converting those steals into easy transition baskets. His defensive rating of 89.3 during that series remains one of the best I've ever recorded in my career covering the PBA. What impressed me most was how he managed to contain Alaska's primary scorers while still providing help defense - it was a defensive clinic that young guards should study.

The bench contribution from both teams, particularly San Miguel's second unit stepping up after Fajardo's injury, demonstrated the depth of talent in that series. Players like Ronald Tubid and Yancy de Ocampo provided crucial minutes and scoring when their teams needed it most. Tubid's 15-point outburst in the third quarter of Game 5 completely shifted the momentum, while de Ocampo's rebounding presence helped Alaska control the paint in several critical moments. These unsung heroes often get overlooked in championship retrospectives, but their contributions were absolutely vital to how the series unfolded.

Looking back, what made that 2015 Governors' Cup Finals so special wasn't just the individual moments, but how they connected to create a narrative that felt almost scripted. The adversity both teams faced, the unexpected heroes emerging at crucial times, and the sheer will to win displayed by every player on the court - it was basketball at its most compelling. Even now, when I rewatch highlights from that series, I find myself getting caught up in the drama all over again. That's the mark of a truly great championship - it transcends the moment and becomes part of basketball legend, something that continues to resonate years later and reminds us why we fell in love with the game in the first place.