come to think of it....: A Final Thought

PBA 37th Season 2011-2012

So marks the end of PBA's 37th season, for PBA enthusiast like me, it was just as amazing as it was just like the previous years, maybe even better.

The season showed three different teams getting a championship at three conferences, three different teams with different stories to tell behind their success, and some stories along the way, stories of success and failures, of lessons learned.

Talk N Text Philippine Cup championship was one for the books, first ever back-to-back Philippine Cup Champion, a good bouncing back after failing to get the PBA Grand Slam off the previous season, a better one having to bounce back at a semi-finals series against Petron after being down 3-1, the best one after enduring injuries one after another - one life threatening. The stories behind that success was one that was most inspiring, the team staying together despite all the setbacks. Not to ignore was Powerade's run to the Finals, having beaten great teams like BMEG and Rain-or-Shine, the revelation of Gary David, proving he was one of the most prolific scorer the league had shown.

Then came the Commissioner's Cup, where BMEG then bounce back from that sorry loss off the Philippine Cup, leading the teams again along the way, and beating Talk N Text of a classic game 7 that had to end after an overtime. Tim Cone, was the old Tim Cone, having to make great changes with the team, even giving up Kerby Raymundo along the way, and getting a very prolific young import and making BMEG as one of the best defensive team in the PBA. And although the last was game was controversial, it was a great series, a well-deserved finals series for the best two teams at that conference.

Final conference has a different format as compared to the first two, having one single-round eliminations, then top six qualifying to semifinals, then another round of matches, with the win and loss record being carried over. At the start of it, Rain-or-Shine really looks so serious in getting their first ever championship. They topped eliminations, had enough serious wins in the semis, and beat BMEG in a classic game 7. Just deserving to finally lift up a trophy. Deserving too for Coach Yeng, who made the most out if his team, who turned up a team from nobody to a team to watch out for.

The season was full of individual success too. Mark Caguioa finally grabbing his Most Valuable Player award, something his fans are longing for him to get, Gary David setting up amazing records on scoring, James Yap, making more million moves along the way. Not to mention some more inspirational stories, Ali Peek getting back on the court, Kelly Williams launching his book and sharing his story, Eugene Tejada, Ricky Brown, Coach Erik Spoelstra visiting the PBA,and Coach Sonny Jaworski's retirement included, then some more controversial stories like Don Allado's twitter outburst, Tim Cone's throwing of chair, Mick Pennisi's 'internationally acclaimed worst flop", heated words from players, fans and coaches alike, then fines and suspensions too.

After the end of it all, I summed it up to a phrase I have to borrow from former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala, still, "Nobody Does it Better Than the PBA".

How about we let the 38th season started?