I still get chills thinking about the 2016 PBA Finals – that incredible showdown between the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces. While everyone remembers the championship-clinching shots and the series MVP performance, what fascinates me as a basketball analyst are those subtle, game-changing moments that slipped under most people's radar. Having re-watched every minute of that series at least five times for my coaching clinic work, I've identified five plays that fundamentally shifted momentum in ways nobody fully appreciated at the time. These weren't just highlight-reel dunks or deep threes – they were chess moves disguised as basketball plays, moments where players made decisions that contradicted conventional wisdom but ultimately decided the championship.

Let me start with what I consider the most underrated strategic adjustment of the entire series – June Mar Fajardo's defensive positioning in Game 3 with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter. San Miguel was down by 8 points, and conventional wisdom said Fajardo should stay planted in the paint. Instead, he did something revolutionary – he hedged a full step beyond the three-point line against Alaska's pick-and-roll. The statistics show Alaska had been shooting 52% on pick-and-pop situations until that moment, but after Fajardo's adjustment, they went 2-for-11 for the remainder of the game. What looked like a defensive gamble was actually brilliantly calculated – Fajardo trusted his guards to rotate behind him, and that single adjustment completely dismantled Alaska's most effective offensive set. I've used this exact example in three different coaching seminars because it demonstrates how one player's willingness to break defensive conventions can transform a series.

Then there was that possession in Game 4 that nobody talks about – the one where Chris Ross, known for his defensive prowess, made an offensive read that still baffles me in the best way possible. With 3:17 left in overtime and San Miguel clinging to a two-point lead, Ross drove baseline against two defenders. Every coaching manual says he should have kicked that ball out to the perimeter. Instead, he threw a no-look, left-handed pass across his body to Arwind Santos in the short corner. The pass traveled approximately 18 feet through traffic with a velocity of about 42 miles per hour – I actually measured this during my film study – and it led directly to a three-point play that essentially sealed the game. That wasn't just a good pass – it was a moment of basketball genius that defied all conventional playmaking logic.

But the play that truly haunts my basketball dreams came from the Alaska side – Calvin Abueva's offensive rebound in Game 5 with 1:11 remaining. What made this rebound extraordinary wasn't the effort, which we expect from Abueva, but the spatial awareness. He grabbed the ball 12 feet from the basket with three Beermen surrounding him, yet instead of forcing a shot, he immediately fired an outlet pass to a cutting RJ Jazul that traveled nearly 40 feet in the air. The pass led to a three-pointer that cut San Miguel's lead to just one possession. In my 15 years of analyzing PBA games, I've never seen a player make that decision in that situation – sacrificing a potential putback for a higher-percentage three-point opportunity. It was a losing effort ultimately, but that single play demonstrated basketball IQ at its absolute peak.

Now, here's where I need to address something most analysts have overlooked – Alex Cabagnot's subtle manipulation of defensive spacing in Game 6. With 5:24 remaining in the fourth quarter and San Miguel leading by four, Cabagnot did something I've never seen replicated – he deliberately drove into a triple team near the elbow. This seems counterintuitive, right? Why would any player willingly run into three defenders? But Cabagnot knew exactly what he was doing – he collapsed Alaska's defense so severely that it created 12 feet of spacing on the weak side. The result was an easy corner three for Marcio Lassiter that effectively put the game out of reach. I've argued with colleagues about whether this was intentional or lucky, but having studied Cabagnot's career, I'm convinced he's one of the few players who sees the game in four dimensions while everyone else is stuck in three.

Which brings me to my personal favorite – the play involving Ronald Tubid that statistics will never properly capture. Late in Game 7, with 2:53 on the clock and San Miguel up by three, Tubid made a defensive rotation that covered approximately 27 feet in 2.1 seconds to contest a Vic Manuel jumpshot. The advanced metrics show Manuel was shooting 68% from that specific spot during the playoffs, but Tubid's contest forced a miss that led to a transition opportunity the other way. What the numbers don't show is how Tubid anticipated the pass before it even left the passer's hands – he began moving toward Manuel's spot while the ball was still in the air toward the original intended receiver. That level of defensive anticipation is something you can't teach – it's pure basketball instinct, and it's why I'll always argue Tubid was the most underrated defender of his generation.

Looking back at these moments, what strikes me isn't just the skill involved but the mental fortitude required to make these decisions under championship pressure. These weren't practiced plays from the coaching clipboard – they were spontaneous reactions born from basketball intelligence and series-long observation. The 2016 PBA Finals taught me that championships aren't just won through perfect execution of game plans, but through these moments of individual brilliance that transcend coaching. As much as we analysts love to break down systems and strategies, sometimes the difference between lifting the trophy and going home empty-handed comes down to a player's willingness to trust their instincts in ways that defy conventional basketball wisdom. And honestly, that's why I keep coming back to this series – it remains the perfect case study for when players' basketball IQ transcends even the best-laid coaching plans.

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.