I was just settling in with my morning coffee yesterday when my phone buzzed with the PBA finals update. Now, I've been following Philippine basketball for over a decade, and I've got to say, yesterday's game between Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beermen was one for the books. The final score was 98-95 in favor of Ginebra, but that barely tells half the story. What really struck me was how perfectly this game illustrated what team sports should be about - something that became crystal clear when I later read Christian Standhardinger's post-game comments.
Let me walk you through what made this particular match so memorable. The fourth quarter had everyone on the edge of their seats with that incredible back-and-forth scoring. With just under three minutes left, the score was tied at 89-89, and you could feel the tension even through the screen. Standhardinger finished with 28 points - just shy of 30 - but what stood out was his perspective afterward. He mentioned, "If I had 30 points and we lost, it wouldn't mean anything, so I'm mostly happy about the win for sure." That mindset, right there, is what separates good players from great teammates. I've seen too many talented players put up impressive numbers in losing efforts and still walk away satisfied with their personal stats. Standhardinger gets it - basketball isn't about individual glory.
The game's turning point came with about 90 seconds remaining when Scottie Thompson, who'd been relatively quiet offensively, made that crucial steal leading to a fastbreak that put Ginebra up by four. This is exactly what Standhardinger was talking about when he added, "I feel really, really happy that I could help my team, but maybe another day, the other players will help more since that's what team sport is about." Thompson only scored 12 points total, but his defensive efforts in the final two minutes were arguably more valuable than any scoring outburst. I've always believed that the most beautiful basketball happens when players understand their roles this perfectly.
What many viewers might have missed was how Japeth Aguilar's early foul trouble actually worked in Ginebra's favor. With Aguilar limited to just 24 minutes of play, we got to see more of Prince Caperal, who delivered eight crucial points in the third quarter when San Miguel seemed poised to pull away. This kind of next-man-up mentality is what makes championship teams. I remember thinking during the third quarter that Ginebra might collapse without their starting big man, but instead, we witnessed exactly the kind of collective effort that defines successful team sports.
The numbers tell an interesting story too. Ginebra shot 45% from the field compared to San Miguel's 42%, but what's more telling is the assist column - 24 to 18 in Ginebra's favor. That six-assist difference might not seem huge, but in a close game, it represents better ball movement and more unselfish play. June Mar Fajardo put up his usual dominant numbers with 25 points and 14 rebounds for San Miguel, but basketball has always been about more than individual stat lines. Sometimes the best players aren't the ones filling up the box score but those making the right decisions in critical moments.
I've noticed this pattern throughout my years watching the PBA - the teams that embrace this collective mindset tend to have more sustained success. There's something special about watching players who genuinely celebrate their teammates' contributions as much as their own. Standhardinger's comments reflect a maturity that I wish more professional athletes would embrace. Basketball, at its core, is about five players moving as one unit, and yesterday's game was a masterclass in that philosophy.
The final two possessions perfectly encapsulated the game's theme. With Ginebra up by three and 15 seconds left, it wasn't Standhardinger who took the potential game-sealing shot but LA Tenorio, who drove and kicked out to an open Stanley Pringle in the corner. Pringle missed, but the ball movement created the best possible look. Then on defense, it was Thompson and Tenorio working together to disrupt San Miguel's final three-point attempt. No single player tried to be the hero - they trusted each other, and that trust delivered the victory.
Reflecting on the game, I'm reminded why I fell in love with basketball in the first place. It's not about highlight-reel dunks or spectacular individual performances - though those are nice too. It's about five players working in harmony, understanding that different nights will require different contributions from different people. Standhardinger could have focused on his near-30-point game, but instead he chose to highlight the team's collective effort. That attitude, more than any particular play or statistic, is what ultimately secured Ginebra's victory and what will make them dangerous throughout the playoffs. The final score shows a three-point win, but the real story is how they achieved it - together.