PBA Semis Best of: Top 5 Unforgettable Moments That Defined the Championship Series

I still get chills thinking about that 2019 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series between San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over two decades, I've witnessed countless playoff battles, but this particular best-of-seven showdown stands out for its sheer drama and legacy-defining moments. What made it truly special wasn't just the high-level basketball—it was how individual performances converged with team narratives to create something unforgettable. The series stretched both teams to their absolute limits, with momentum swinging like a pendulum throughout those grueling seven games.

I remember watching Game 7 with that familiar tension in my stomach, the kind that only comes when championship dreams hang in the balance. That's when June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross decided to author one of the most dominant closing acts I've seen in PBA semifinals history. Ross, in particular, delivered what I consider his career-defining performance—19 points, seven assists, and four steals that essentially broke Ginebra's spirit. What impressed me most wasn't just the stat line but the timing. Every one of those four steals came at moments when Ginebra threatened to build momentum, and his back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter felt like daggers to the heart of their comeback hopes. I've always believed championship series reveal players' true character, and Ross demonstrated that night why he's among the most clutch performers in recent PBA memory.

There's something magical about seeing two players with completely different skill sets complement each other perfectly when it matters most. Fajardo's dominance in the paint—his 28 points and 15 rebounds that night—created the spacing Ross needed to operate, while Ross's perimeter defense and playmaking relieved the constant double-teams Fajardo faced. This symbiotic relationship produced what I'd argue was the most efficient two-man game in that entire semifinal series. Statistics show they combined for 47 of San Miguel's 104 points in that decisive Game 7, but numbers alone can't capture how they dismantled Ginebra's defensive schemes. I've rewatched that game at least five times, and each viewing reveals new layers to their basketball intelligence—how they communicated through subtle gestures, how Ross knew exactly when to feed Fajardo in the post, how Fajardo's screens created just enough separation for Ross's outside shots.

What often gets overlooked in discussions about that series is the psychological warfare happening between plays. I recall specifically how Ross's defensive intensity seemed to compound throughout the game—his fourth steal with about 6:23 remaining in the fourth quarter led to a fastbreak layup that extended San Miguel's lead to 14 points. From my perspective watching courtside, you could see the frustration building on Ginebra's faces—they had answers for Fajardo's size but couldn't solve Ross's relentless pressure. Championship series aren't just won with physical skill; they're won in these mental battles, and Ross masterfully played the role of disruptor. His performance reminded me of legendary PBA defenders of the past, except he coupled that defensive prowess with offensive creation—a rare combination that makes such performances so memorable.

The context makes this moment even more significant. This wasn't just any semifinal game—it was the culmination of a fierce rivalry that had been building over three consecutive conference finals meetings between these teams. Ginebra had ended San Miguel's championship reign in the previous Governors' Cup, and there was palpable tension throughout this series. When Ross hit that three-pointer with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter, putting San Miguel up 96-79, the atmosphere in the arena shifted from anxious anticipation to pure celebration. I remember turning to my colleague and saying, "This is the exclamation point," and indeed it was. Those final minutes weren't just about securing a victory—they were about making a statement, about reclaiming dominance in what has become the PBA's premier modern rivalry.

Reflecting on it now, what makes this moment stand the test of time in my memory is how it encapsulated the evolution of both players and teams. Fajardo had already established himself as the league's dominant force, but this series showed his growth in handling double-teams and making smarter passes out of the post. Ross transformed from being primarily a defensive specialist into a legitimate two-way threat who could take over games when needed. Their synergy in that Game 7 performance represents what championship basketball is all about—stars elevating their games when the stakes are highest, role players exceeding expectations, and teams peaking at the perfect moment. I've always maintained that great semifinal series often surpass the actual finals in terms of drama and quality, and this 2019 showdown certainly proves that theory.

The legacy of that performance continues to resonate in how both teams approached subsequent seasons. San Miguel carried that momentum into the finals where they captured the championship, while Ginebra used the disappointment as fuel for their own redemption arc in the following conference. For me personally, it reinforced why I love covering Philippine basketball—the emotional investment from fans, the strategic chess matches between coaches, and those transcendent individual efforts that become part of PBA folklore. When people ask me to recommend classic PBA series to watch, this 2019 semifinal always makes my top three, with Fajardo and Ross's Game 7 masterclass being the centerpiece. It wasn't just basketball—it was theater, it was narrative, it was everything that makes sports worth watching and remembering years later.