I still remember sitting in that packed arena, the air thick with anticipation as the final seconds ticked down in Game 7 of the PBA Finals. As someone who's covered basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless championship moments, but this one felt different - not just because of the stakes, but because of what we didn't know about one of the star players until after the final buzzer sounded. The final score of 98-95 doesn't begin to tell the full story of what unfolded on that court, especially when you consider that one of the key players had been battling supraspinatus tendinitis in her left shoulder throughout the entire series.

Let me break down what made this particular Game 7 so remarkable. The scoring pattern throughout the game was unlike any championship finale I've seen in recent years. The first quarter ended with a surprisingly low 18-16 score, which honestly had many of us in the press box scratching our heads. Both teams seemed to be feeling the pressure, with missed shots and uncharacteristic turnovers dominating the opening minutes. What we didn't realize at the time was that the game's eventual MVP was playing through significant pain - that supraspinatus tendinitis diagnosis she later revealed to reporters was clearly affecting her shooting motion, particularly from beyond the arc where she normally excels.

The second quarter is where things really started to heat up, with the scoring jumping to 54-48 by halftime. I noticed something peculiar during this stretch - the player with the shoulder injury started driving to the basket more frequently rather than taking outside shots. At the time, I thought it was a strategic adjustment, but knowing what we know now about her supraspinatus tendinitis, it's clear she was adapting her game to work around the pain. Her team scored 36 points in that quarter alone, with her contributing 12 points despite what we now understand was considerable discomfort. The way she managed to maintain her effectiveness while dealing with that kind of injury speaks volumes about her toughness and basketball IQ.

What really stood out to me in the third quarter was how the scoring became more balanced across both teams. The period ended 75-73, with neither team able to establish more than a four-point lead. From my seat near the court, I could see the player grimacing after certain movements, though she never let it show in her demeanor during play. The medical staff later confirmed that supraspinatus tendinitis typically causes sharp pain during overhead movements and rotation - exactly the motions required for shooting and rebounding. Considering she still managed to grab 5 rebounds in that quarter alone makes her performance even more impressive in retrospect.

The fourth quarter was where championship legacies are made, and this game delivered in spades. With 2:13 remaining on the clock, the score was tied at 89-89. What happened next was one of the most courageous displays I've seen from an injured athlete. The player with the shoulder condition drove baseline and completed a difficult left-handed layup despite what had to be excruciating pain in that very shoulder. That put her team up by two, and they never relinquished the lead. The final three-point margin doesn't reflect how close this game truly was - it came down to one possession after another in those closing minutes.

Looking at the final statistics, what's most telling isn't just the 98-95 scoreline, but the distribution of those points. The winning team shot 45% from the field while the losers managed 43% - a difference of just two percentage points that ultimately decided the championship. The player dealing with supraspinatus tendinitis finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists - numbers that would be impressive for a healthy player, let alone someone competing with that type of injury. Her revelation about the shoulder condition after the game puts those numbers into proper perspective and makes her performance even more remarkable.

From my perspective as someone who's followed this player's career since her rookie season, this performance ranks among her most impressive, not because of the statistics, but because of the circumstances. Supraspinatus tendinitis isn't just painful - it significantly limits range of motion and shooting accuracy. The fact that she managed to play 38 minutes in a Game 7 while dealing with this condition demonstrates a level of mental toughness that separates good players from legendary ones. Her decision to disclose the injury only after winning the championship shows her commitment to not making excuses - a quality I've always admired in athletes.

The final score tells us who won, but it doesn't capture the human element of this game. That 98-95 result will be recorded in history books, but what I'll remember is watching an athlete push through physical limitations most of us can't comprehend. The way she adapted her game, favoring drives over jump shots in the second half, showed incredible basketball intelligence. Her ability to contribute meaningfully despite the supraspinatus tendinitis speaks to her preparation and resilience. In my years covering sports, I've learned that the best games aren't just about the numbers on the scoreboard - they're about the stories behind those numbers, and this Game 7 had one of the most compelling stories I've ever witnessed.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.