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I still remember watching that 2017 PBA season like it was yesterday - the energy was absolutely electric, especially during the playoff crunch. Let me take you back to that incredible Red Lions comeback that perfectly captured the season's unpredictable nature. Down 13 points with a 10-23 deficit after the opening salvo, things looked pretty grim for the team. But what happened next was pure basketball magic. Jomel Puno, Janti Miller, and Zed Etulle - all three finishing with exactly 14 points each - orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds I've witnessed in my years covering Philippine basketball. That game became a microcosm of the entire season, where momentum could shift in the blink of an eye and underdogs constantly defied expectations.

The 2017 team standings told such a fascinating story about competitive balance across both conferences. Looking at the final rankings, what struck me most was how tightly packed the middle of the table was - just a couple of games separating teams fighting for those precious playoff spots. I've always believed that the most exciting seasons aren't when you have one dominant team running away with everything, but when five or six squads genuinely believe they can make a deep playoff run. This was exactly that kind of season. The Commissioner's Cup particularly stood out to me because of how international players integrated with local talent, creating these fascinating team dynamics that we hadn't seen in previous years. Some teams like San Miguel demonstrated that championship pedigree we've come to expect, while others like the surprising Rain or Shine squad showed how strategic coaching could maximize limited resources.

When playoff time rolled around, the intensity reached another level entirely. The quarterfinals alone featured three Game 3 deciders, which is pretty rare in our league. What impressed me wasn't just the star power - though we certainly had plenty of that - but how role players consistently stepped up in crucial moments. I recall talking to several coaches that season who emphasized how their second units often made the difference in those tight playoff games. The semifinal matchups delivered some instant classics too, with overtime thrillers and last-second shots that had fans on the edge of their seats. Personally, I think the 2017 playoffs featured some of the best coaching adjustments we've seen in recent memory, particularly in how teams managed their rotations to handle the compressed schedule.

Reflecting on that entire season, what stands out most isn't just the final championship outcome, but the journey there. The way teams evolved throughout the year, making roster adjustments and tactical shifts, really demonstrated the growing sophistication of our league. I've always maintained that the true test of a team's quality isn't just how they perform during winning streaks, but how they respond to adversity - and boy, did we see plenty of that in 2017. From dramatic comebacks like that Red Lions game to teams battling through injuries to stay in playoff contention, the season had it all. These moments, more than just the final standings, are what made 2017 such a memorable year for PBA fans. The league demonstrated tremendous growth in both competitive depth and entertainment value, setting the stage for even more exciting seasons to come.