Looking back at the 2017 PBA season, I still get chills remembering how the Huskers completely dominated the court. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've rarely seen a team maintain such explosive momentum throughout an entire tournament. The South's reigning titlists weren't just winning - they were redefining what championship basketball looked like in the PBA.
What truly amazed me was their consistency during that critical elimination phase. The Huskers extended their winning run to four consecutive victories and raised their record to an impressive 20-4 in the round-robin elimination phase of that massive 30-team, two-division tournament. Those numbers aren't just statistics - they represent a level of performance that most teams can only dream of achieving. I remember watching their point guard orchestrate plays with such precision that opponents often looked like they were moving in slow motion. Their defensive coordination was particularly outstanding, creating turnovers that led to fast breaks that would leave audiences breathless.
The tournament structure itself presented unique challenges that made the Huskers' performance even more remarkable. With thirty teams divided across two divisions, every game mattered tremendously. The round-robin format meant there were no easy matches - each victory had to be earned through strategic planning and flawless execution. I recall discussing with fellow analysts how the Huskers managed their player rotations, preserving their starters' energy while developing their bench strength. This strategic depth, in my opinion, was what separated them from other talented teams that season.
There was this one game against their division rivals where they were down by 15 points going into the fourth quarter. Most teams would have folded under that pressure, but the Huskers demonstrated why they were champions. Their comeback wasn't just about scoring - it was about psychological warfare, wearing down their opponents through relentless defensive pressure. The crowd's energy that night was absolutely electric, building with every possession until the arena practically shook during their final game-winning play.
What many casual observers miss when looking at that 20-4 record is the context behind those four losses. Each defeat came against different playing styles, and crucially, the Huskers adapted after every loss. They didn't just have talented players - they had intelligent players and coaching staff who could analyze and adjust. This adaptability, combined with their raw talent, created this unstoppable force that seemed to improve with every game. Their shooting percentage in clutch situations was particularly notable - I'd estimate they shot around 58% in the final two minutes of close games, though I'd need to verify the exact statistics.
The legacy of that Huskers team continues to influence how PBA teams approach roster construction and in-game strategies today. Their success proved that in a league with so much parity, the difference between good and great often comes down to mental toughness and strategic flexibility. While other teams had comparable individual talent, the Huskers demonstrated how collective execution could elevate a team beyond the sum of its parts. Their 2017 season remains, in my view, one of the most masterful campaigns in recent PBA history - a perfect blend of individual brilliance and team chemistry that created must-see basketball every time they stepped on the court.