Relive the PBA 2015 Season: Top 10 Unforgettable Games and Highlights
I still remember that humid Manila evening, sitting in my usual spot at the MOA Arena with the scent of sweat and anticipation hanging thick in the air. The 2015 PBA season had been particularly electric, and as I watched James Yap sink another impossible three-pointer, I found myself wondering how many more of these moments we'd witness from the legendary player. It was during that game when a reporter from SPIN.ph asked Yap if he was hinting at retirement, and the eight-time champion and four-time Finals MVP played coy with that signature smile of his. That moment captured the entire season for me - legends contemplating their legacies while new heroes emerged in spectacular fashion.
The 2015 season gave us enough drama to fill several highlight reels, but some games just burned brighter in memory. Take that incredible Game 7 between San Miguel and Alaska in the Philippine Cup finals - my throat still gets sore remembering how I screamed when Arwind Santos blocked Calvin Abueva's potential game-winner with just 15 seconds remaining. The entire arena went absolutely mental, a collective roar that I swear shook the foundation of the Smart Araneta Coliseum. That single defensive play secured San Miguel's 19th championship after being down 0-2 earlier in the series, proving that in basketball, no lead is ever truly safe until the final buzzer sounds.
What made the 2015 PBA season truly special was how every team seemed to have their moment in the sun. Purefoods' historic comeback against Rain or Shine in the Commissioner's Cup semifinals still gives me chills - trailing by 18 points in the fourth quarter, they mounted what many consider the greatest comeback in PBA history, winning 101-95 in overtime. I recall turning to my friend during the third quarter and saying "this game's over," only to eat my words an hour later. That's the beauty of Philippine basketball - it constantly reminds you why you should never leave your seat early.
The imports that year brought an entirely different level of excitement. Arizona Reid's 43-point explosion for Rain or Shine against GlobalPort wasn't just impressive - it was pure artistry in motion. Meanwhile, June Mar Fajardo was beginning to solidify his reputation as the "Kraken," averaging 16.8 points and 14.2 rebounds that season. Watching him develop from a raw talent into the dominant force we know today has been one of the genuine pleasures of following Philippine basketball over the past decade.
As I look back now, compiling my personal list of the top 10 unforgettable games from that remarkable season feels like revisiting old photo albums. Each game tells a story beyond the statistics - the tension in the arena during the Barangay Ginebra-Meralco showdown, the unexpected emergence of Terrence Romeo as a scoring machine, the heartbreak of Talk 'N Text's injury-plagued campaign. Relive the PBA 2015 season with me through these memories, and you'll understand why many consider it a turning point in modern Philippine basketball history. The league was changing, evolving, and we were all fortunate enough to witness it courtside.
