I still get chills thinking about the 2017 PBA season – what an incredible year for basketball fans. That championship energy was palpable from the opening games right through to the final buzzer. I remember watching the Huskers dominate throughout the season, and that specific game where they extended their winning run to four victories while pushing their record to an impressive 20-4 during the round-robin elimination phase. In a massive 30-team, two-division tournament, maintaining that level of consistency was absolutely remarkable. Their performance wasn't just about winning; it was about sending a message to every other team in the league.

When we talk about the best PBA games of 2017, we have to acknowledge how the championship moments were built on these foundational performances during the elimination rounds. The Huskers, as the South's reigning titlists, played with this fascinating combination of raw talent and strategic brilliance that made every game must-watch television. I particularly loved their defensive rotations – the way they could switch from zone to man-to-man coverage mid-play showed incredible discipline and court awareness. Their ball movement during critical possessions often left opponents scrambling, creating those highlight-reel plays that we still share on social media today.

What made the 2017 season special wasn't just the individual brilliance but how teams evolved throughout the tournament. The two-division structure created these fascinating rivalries and storylines that played out over months. I've always preferred seasons with longer elimination phases because they truly test a team's depth and adaptability. The Huskers demonstrated exactly why round-robin formats separate the good teams from the great ones – anyone can get hot for a single game, but maintaining excellence across 24 elimination games? That's championship material.

The championship moments from that year were particularly memorable because they felt earned. Unlike some seasons where upsets feel somewhat flukey, the 2017 finals showcased teams that had been battle-tested through that grueling elimination phase. I'll never forget watching the Huskers execute in clutch situations – their players seemed to have this sixth sense for when to take over games. Their point guard's decision-making in pick-and-roll situations was textbook perfection, while their big men controlled the paint with authority that reminded me of classic PBA eras.

Looking back, the 2017 season set a standard for what exciting basketball should be. The combination of individual brilliance, team chemistry, and high-stakes tournament structure created the perfect storm for memorable basketball. Even now, when I rewatch those classic games, I notice new details – subtle defensive adjustments, clever off-ball movement, and coaching decisions that truly made the difference between victory and defeat. That season reminded me why I fell in love with basketball in the first place, and why the PBA continues to deliver some of the most exciting basketball moments year after year.