2019 PBA All Filipino Cup Highlights: Top Moments and Championship Recap
I still remember the tension in the Smart Araneta Coliseum during that final game of the 2019 PBA All-Filipino Cup - the air was so thick with anticipation you could practically taste it. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless championship moments, but this particular series between San Miguel Beermen and Magnolia Hotshots had that special electricity that separates great tournaments from legendary ones. The All-Filipino Cup has always held a special place in my heart because it showcases purely homegrown talent, and this edition delivered some of the most memorable basketball I've seen in years.
What made this championship particularly compelling was how it defied expectations at every turn. Most analysts, myself included, had predicted San Miguel would dominate the series, especially with June Mar Fajlooking absolutely unstoppable throughout the eliminations. But Magnolia, coached by the brilliant Chito Victolero, had different plans. They pushed San Miguel to the absolute limit in a Game Six that I still consider one of the most dramatic finishes in recent PBA memory. The game was tied at 87-87 with mere seconds remaining when Calvin Abueva fouled CJ Perez on a three-point attempt - a decision that had everyone in the arena holding their breath. Perez, cool as ice, sank all three free throws to give San Miguel a 90-87 lead with just 4.2 seconds left. What happened next was pure basketball magic.
This is where that incredible moment from our knowledge base comes into play - the one I keep replaying in my mind. Paul Lee, who'd been relatively quiet throughout the game, received the inbound pass and immediately drew a foul from Calvin Oftana while attempting a three-pointer with 0.7 seconds remaining. Now, here's where I have to be honest - I thought the game was over. I've seen players crumble under far less pressure. But Lee, displaying nerves of steel that reminded me why he's one of my favorite clutch performers, stepped to the line needing to make all three free throws to force overtime. The arena fell completely silent - you could hear a pin drop. Lee's first shot swished through the net. The second followed perfectly. On the third attempt, my heart was practically pounding out of my chest - and he delivered again, tying the game and sending it to overtime where San Miguel ultimately prevailed 98-91. That sequence alone made this championship unforgettable for me.
The numbers from that series still impress me when I look back at them. San Miguel finished the elimination round with an 8-3 record, scoring an average of 102.4 points per game while allowing just 96.7 points defensively. June Mar Faj ended the finals averaging 22.3 points and 13.7 rebounds - absolute monster numbers that earned him the Finals MVP honors in my book, though some might argue Chris Ross deserved consideration too after his 21-point explosion in Game Five. What often gets overlooked in the statistics is the defensive intensity both teams maintained throughout the series - the shooting percentages were lower than typical PBA finals because both squads were giving everything they had on every possession.
Looking back, I believe this championship cemented San Miguel's status as the modern dynasty of the PBA, marking their 27th franchise championship and fifth All-Filipino Cup title in six years. But beyond the numbers and the trophy, what made this tournament special was how it showcased the heart of Philippine basketball. The way both teams fought through injuries, the coaching adjustments game to game, and those incredible moments of individual brilliance under pressure - these are the things that stay with fans like me long after the final buzzer sounds. That Oftana foul leading to Lee's three free throws perfectly encapsulated why we love this sport - the constant tension between mistake and opportunity, between heartbreak and glory, all unfolding in mere seconds.
I've often reflected on how this particular championship changed my perspective on what makes great teams truly special. It's not just about talent or strategy - it's about resilience in those make-or-break moments. San Miguel could have folded when Lee made those three free throws, but they regrouped during the timeout and dominated the overtime period. That mental toughness is what separates championship teams from merely good ones. Four years later, I still find myself showing clips from this series to young players I coach, using those final seconds as the ultimate lesson in maintaining composure under pressure. The 2019 All-Filipino Cup wasn't just another tournament - it was a masterclass in basketball drama that reminded all of us why we fell in love with this game in the first place.
