Watching Game 3 of the PBA Finals, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment. This wasn’t just another playoff game—it was a clash of legacies, a test of strategy, and frankly, a masterclass in adaptation. I’ve followed the PBA for years, and what stood out to me in this matchup was how one team, despite being undermanned, managed to execute a game plan that left everyone, including me, taking notes. Even more, they were just two wins shy of a Grand Slam against an SMB side led by Best Player of the Conference June Mar Fajardo, whom they had to game plan for with lacking personnel. That’s the kind of challenge that either breaks you or defines your season, and from where I sat, it looked like they were leaning heavily toward the latter.

Let’s talk about June Mar Fajardo for a second. Standing at 6’10” and averaging around 16.8 points and 13.2 rebounds this conference, he’s the kind of player you build entire defensive schemes around. I remember thinking before the game, "How do you stop a force like that when you don’t have the personnel?" Well, the answer, as it turned out, wasn’t about stopping him completely—it was about limiting his impact in key moments. The opposing coach, someone I’ve always admired for his tactical flexibility, deployed a mix of double-teams and timely zone defenses that forced Fajardo into tougher shots than he’s used to. There was one play in the third quarter where Fajardo received the ball in the low post, only to be met by two defenders who stripped the ball and ignited a fast break. That wasn’t just a turnover; it was a statement. In my view, that sequence shifted the momentum and showed that even giants can be contained with the right approach.

Offensively, the underdog team relied on ball movement and perimeter shooting, which, I have to say, was executed with near-perfect precision. They shot 42% from beyond the arc, a number that might not sound astronomical, but in a finals game against a defensive powerhouse like SMB, it’s nothing short of remarkable. I’ve always believed that three-point shooting in the PBA is underrated in terms of its psychological impact—each made shot chips away at the opponent’s confidence, and in this game, you could see it happening in real time. One of my favorite moments was a corner three from their shooting guard, who’d been struggling earlier in the series. The way he hesitated for a split second, then let it fly with confidence—it was a thing of beauty. Plays like that don’t just add points; they build belief, and honestly, I think that’s what carried them through the final minutes.

But let’s not forget the intangibles. As someone who’s analyzed countless games, I can tell you that finals are often won or lost on hustle plays—the loose balls, the defensive stops, the sheer will to outwork the other team. There was a sequence in the fourth quarter where both teams traded baskets for what felt like an eternity, but it was one offensive rebound followed by a put-back dunk that had me jumping out of my seat. Statistics might show that they grabbed 12 offensive boards compared to SMB’s 8, but numbers alone can’t capture the energy in the arena. That dunk, in particular, felt like a culmination of everything they’d been building toward: relentless effort meeting opportunity.

Now, I know some fans might argue that SMB’s reliance on Fajardo became a liability in this game, and I’m inclined to agree. While he finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds, his team seemed to fall into a pattern of forcing the ball inside even when the defense was ready. From my perspective, that’s where coaching makes all the difference. The opposing staff clearly did their homework, exploiting SMB’s predictability in crunch time. It reminds me of a lesson I picked up early in my career: in high-stakes games, adaptability trumps talent more often than we admit. And here, the underdogs adapted, while SMB, for all their firepower, looked a step slow in adjusting.

As the final buzzer sounded, sealing a 98-95 victory, I couldn’t help but reflect on what this means for the series. They’re now just two wins away from that elusive Grand Slam, and if they continue to play with this level of cohesion and intelligence, I’d say they have a real shot. Personally, I’ve always rooted for teams that overcome odds through strategy rather than sheer star power, so this performance was especially satisfying. It’s games like these that remind me why I love basketball—not just for the athleticism, but for the chess match underneath. If you haven’t seen the highlights yet, do yourself a favor and watch them. You’ll witness not only top plays but a lesson in how to game-plan against a titan.