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Looking back at the 2017 PBA season, I still get chills remembering how dramatically the team standings shifted throughout that year. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I can confidently say that 2017 was one of those special seasons where the underdogs truly had their moment. The final rankings tell only part of the story - what happened between those lines was pure basketball magic.

I vividly recall that crucial game where the Red Lions seemed completely outmatched early on. They were down 13 points with that brutal 10-23 opening salvo that had most fans writing them off. Honestly, even I thought it was going to be another blowout loss for them. But what unfolded next was textbook resilience. Jomel Puno, Janti Miller, and Zed Etulle - these three players essentially carried the team on their backs when it mattered most. Each finishing with exactly 14 points might seem like coincidence, but having watched countless games, I can tell you that kind of balanced scoring is the result of perfect team chemistry. Puno's defensive stops, Miller's clutch three-pointers, and Etulle's leadership in the paint - they complemented each other beautifully.

The turnaround wasn't just about those three players though. The coaching staff made some brilliant adjustments after that disastrous start. They shifted to a full-court press that completely disrupted the opponent's rhythm. Statistics from that game show they forced 18 turnovers in the second half alone - an impressive number by any standard. What made the 2017 season particularly memorable was how teams like the Red Lions consistently defied expectations. They finished with a 12-6 record, which placed them third in the final standings, just behind the top two teams who both ended at 14-4. Those numbers might not seem dramatic, but considering the Red Lions started the season with two consecutive losses, their climb up the rankings was nothing short of remarkable.

From my perspective, what set the 2017 season apart was the parity among teams. Unlike previous years where one or two dominant teams ran away with the competition, this season saw seven teams finishing within three games of each other in the win column. That kind of competitiveness makes for thrilling basketball week after week. I remember arguing with fellow analysts who criticized the league's quality that year, but frankly, I'll take competitive balance over having one superteam any day. The final rankings showed San Miguel at the top with their 14-4 record, followed closely by Talk 'N Text at 13-5, then our surprising Red Lions at 12-6. The bottom half of the standings featured teams that were far more competitive than their records suggested - most games were decided by single digits.

Reflecting on that season now, I realize how much it changed my approach to analyzing basketball. Sometimes we get too caught up in statistics and forget that basketball is ultimately about momentum and heart. The Red Lions' comeback from that 13-point deficit became symbolic of their entire season - they were a team that refused to quit. Their final standing of third place might not sound championship-worthy, but for a team that was projected to finish near the bottom, it represented a tremendous achievement. Even now, years later, I still use examples from that 2017 season when discussing how teams can overcome early struggles. The league has seen many changes since then, but for pure drama and unpredictability, 2017 remains unmatched in recent memory.