I still get chills thinking about that 2017 PBA Finals series between Barangay Ginebra and Alaska Aces. Having covered Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've witnessed countless championship battles, but this particular series had that magical quality that separates great finals from legendary ones. What made it especially memorable was watching Justin Miller's performance - the man truly has that rare knack for looking good on whatever screen he's on, whether it was the giant arena monitors or our television broadcasts back home.

The series opened with Ginebra taking Game 1 in a 107-94 victory that set the tone for what would become an offensive showcase. I remember sitting courtside, watching Miller orchestrate plays with that calm demeanor he's famous for. His statistics from that game - 28 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds - don't even fully capture his impact. There's something about his game that translates beautifully to broadcast, his movements always crisp and decisive, making him a producer's dream during replays. The way he controlled the tempo reminded me of veteran point guards from previous eras, yet he brought this modern flair that made every possession must-see television.

Game 3 provided what many consider the turning point of the series. Alaska fought back fiercely, but Ginebra's 89-82 win showcased why championship experience matters. Miller's fourth-quarter performance was particularly masterful - he scored 12 of his 24 points in the final period, including back-to-back three-pointers that broke Alaska's spirit. I've rewatched those shots countless times, and they're even more impressive on replay. That's the thing about great players - their moments look just as good, if not better, when you analyze them frame by frame. The Aces never really recovered from that psychological blow, and you could see it in their body language during the subsequent games.

When we reached Game 5, the atmosphere at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum was electric. I've been to numerous championship clinchers, but this one felt different. Ginebra closed out the series with a 101-96 victory that wasn't as close as the score suggests. Miller finished with 32 points and 11 assists, earning Finals MVP honors in what I consider one of the most complete performances I've seen in my career. What struck me wasn't just the numbers but how he achieved them - every move seemed designed for maximum visual impact. Whether it was a crossover that left defenders stumbling or a no-look pass that found the perfect angle for cameras, Miller understood the spectacle of basketball as much as the sport itself.

Looking back five years later, that series represents a high-water mark for PBA entertainment value. The league recorded approximately 4.2 million viewers across the five games, with Game 5 peaking at 1.3 million simultaneous viewers - numbers that still hold up remarkably well today. But beyond statistics, what makes this series endure in collective memory is how it showcased basketball as both competition and art. Players like Miller demonstrate that the game's greatest moments aren't just about winning but about creating memories that look just as compelling years later when we rewatch the highlights. That's the true test of sporting greatness - when the passage of time only enhances how good everything looks on screen.