The PBA's first three-season conference in three years was a smashing success.
Like all businesses, the PBA was not spared by the pandemic. In fact, the worldwide health crisis cut short not only Season 45, where only the Philippine Cup was held, but also Season 46, which saw only the Philippine Cup and Governors’ Cup.
But the PBA persevered. Now, Asia’s first play-for-pay league looks as vibrant and as strong as ever, delivering its first full, three-conference season—Season 47—three years after COVID-19 first shut the world down.
For all intents and purposes, the season was hugely successful, marked by milestones, memorable moments, and everything in between.
June Mar Fajardo gets back to MVP form
It took a while for The Kraken to regain his MVP form after he missed all of Season 45 due to a fractured right tibia. But it was well worth the wait as a fully healthy Fajardo led the San Miguel Beermen to the 2022 Philippine Cup title against the TNT Tropang Giga. The six-time MVP would have been in line for a seventh, in fact, had he not been sidelined for most of the Governors’ Cup due to a sprained left MCL, which he suffered in the EASL pocket tournament.
A guest team leaves a mark
No one knew what the Bay Area Dragons would bring to the PBA in the Commissioner’s Cup, but one conference and a classic finals appearance later, most seem to agree: They Dragons deserve another rodeo. Coach Brian Goorjian’s squad played a beautiful but ferocious brand of basketball and could have made history had they not run into the Justin Brownlee-led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Milestones unlocked
Speaking of Brownlee, he was among a handful of players who achieved milestones this season, becoming only the fifth import in league history to score 5,000 points and the first to record 300 steals. Brownlee’s teammates, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar, also assaulted the record books, with the former climbing up to third all-time in triples made (behind only Jimmy Alapag and Allan Caidic) and the latter snaring 1,000 offensive rebounds for his career.
All-Star festivities make grand comeback
In years past, the All-Star Week has been the PBA's way of bringing the league and its stars closer to fans, routinely holding the festive event outside of Metro Manila. But the PBA had to scrap it indefinitely because of the pandemic—up until March this year. The All-Star Week held in Passi, Iloilo proved to be a rousing success, with the PBA family putting on a show in more ways than one, including a surprisingly competitive All-Star Game won by Team Japeth.
The Iron Man streak ends
Tenorio’s Iron Man streak ended at 744 games after he missed Ginebra’s elimination round game against the Meralco Bolts in the Governors’ Cup due to a groin strain, which he initially suffered in the Commissioner’s Cup finals versus Bay Area. But things happen for a reason, and that injury may have been instrumental in Tenorio getting the necessary checkups that ultimately led to his colon cancer diagnosis. The 38-year-old veteran though has vowed to come back stronger.
A battle of titans to end a banner year
Of course, who could forget the Governors’ Cup finale that saw Ginebra and TNT duke it out for all the marbles? It was a compelling series in more ways than one, and it more than lived up to the hype. In the end, Tropang Giga guard Mikey Williams delivered a mesmerizing title-clinching tour de force—ending Season 47 with, pardon the pun, a whole lot of fireworks.
After this epic season, the PBA will get to hit pause temporarily once more as it throws it support to Gilas Pilipinas, which is focused on the Southeast Asian Games in May, the FIBA World Cup in July, and the Asian Games in September. The PBA will return for Season 48 in October.