I still get chills thinking about that sweltering June night in 2013 when the Araneta Coliseum shook with playoff energy. As someone who's covered Philippine basketball for over fifteen years, I've witnessed countless championship moments, but Game Four of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals between Alaska and Barangay Ginebra remains permanently etched in my memory. What made that series particularly special wasn't just the basketball—it was the human stories unfolding both on the hardwood and in the stands. I remember watching Alaska's import Aleks Maric during warmups, his usual focused demeanor suddenly breaking into this radiant smile when he spotted unexpected faces in the crowd. Later, we'd learn what prompted that moment when he told reporters, "They surprised me, actually. I didn't know they were coming and it makes it even sweeter. I thank them for always having my back and it means a lot to have them watch the most important game of my life." That emotional context gave the entire series an added layer of significance that transcended typical playoff intensity.
The series had been an absolute war from the opening tip. Alaska, under coach Luigi Trillo's system, played methodical, disciplined basketball that contrasted sharply with Ginebra's explosive, crowd-pleasing style. Through the first three games, we saw Alaska's system gradually overwhelming Ginebra's individual brilliance, with the Aces taking a 2-1 series lead heading into that critical Game Four. What impressed me most about Alaska was their defensive execution—they held Ginebra to just 38% shooting from the field throughout the series while forcing an average of 18 turnovers per game. Maric's presence in the paint was transformative, but what truly made Alaska dangerous was how perfectly their local players complemented their import. Cyrus Baguio was playing the best basketball of his career, JVee Casio orchestrated the offense with surgical precision, and Sonny Thoss provided that steady veteran presence every championship team needs.
Game Four itself was a masterpiece of playoff basketball, though I'll admit I was initially skeptical about Alaska's ability to close out the series against a Ginebra squad fighting for survival. The first quarter played out exactly as I feared—Ginebra came out with desperate energy, building an early 8-point lead behind LA Tenorio's brilliant playmaking and Mark Caguioa's scoring bursts. The crowd was absolutely deafening, creating that distinctive Ginebra home-court advantage that has buried so many opponents over the years. But then something shifted in the second quarter. Alaska began executing their half-court sets with incredible patience, often burning 20 seconds off the shot clock before finding high-percentage looks. Maric started dominating the offensive glass, grabbing 6 offensive rebounds in that quarter alone. I remember turning to my colleague and saying, "They're breaking Ginebra's spirit possession by possession."
The third quarter featured what I still consider one of the most impressive coaching adjustments I've seen in a championship game. Trillo inserted Gabby Espinas into the lineup, and his energy completely changed the game's momentum. Espinas scored 8 quick points while providing relentless defensive pressure that disrupted Ginebra's offensive flow. Meanwhile, Maric continued his interior dominance, finishing the game with what I recall as 24 points and 17 rebounds—monstrous numbers against Ginebra's formidable frontcourt. What made Maric's performance particularly impressive was his efficiency—he shot 11 of 16 from the field, consistently making the right reads out of double teams. His emotional connection to the game was palpable, especially when camera shots would pan to his family in the stands, their presence clearly fueling his performance.
As the fourth quarter began with Alaska holding a narrow 4-point lead, the tension in the arena became almost unbearable. Every possession felt like the entire series hung in the balance. With about 7 minutes remaining, Caguioa hit back-to-back difficult jumpers to tie the game at 78-all, and the coliseum erupted. This was the moment where Alaska teams of the past might have folded, but this squad was different. Casio responded with a cold-blooded three-pointer, then Baguio converted a steal into a fastbreak layup that pushed the lead back to 5. The sequence that ultimately decided the championship came with under 3 minutes left—Maric blocked Caguioa's driving attempt, secured the rebound, and immediately initiated the break that led to Dondon Hontiveros draining a corner three that essentially sealed the game. Alaska would win 88-82, completing their championship run in dominant fashion.
Looking back, what made that Alaska team so special was their perfect blend of system basketball and individual brilliance. They played with a collective understanding that's rare in modern professional basketball. Maric's import selection proved to be a masterstroke—he wasn't the most athletic or flashy import in the league, but his basketball IQ and fit within Alaska's system were perfect. The local players embraced their roles completely, with Thoss sacrificing offensive touches for defensive stability and Baguio embracing the clutch scorer role. Their victory marked the franchise's 14th championship, a testament to the organization's sustained excellence. Even now, nearly a decade later, I consider that Alaska team one of the best-constructed squads in PBA history—a perfect example of how system, talent, and chemistry can overcome individual star power. That 2013 Commissioner's Cup wasn't just a championship—it was a basketball lesson in how the whole can become greater than the sum of its parts, a principle that continues to influence how I analyze team construction to this day.