2017 PBA Team Standing: Complete Rankings and Season Highlights Revealed

Looking back at the 2017 PBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable the team standings turned out to be. As someone who’s followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I’ve rarely seen a season where momentum shifted so dramatically, especially in the crucial final stretch. The Commissioner’s Cup and Governor’s Cup, in particular, were absolute nail-biters, with teams jostling for position right up until the last elimination round game. I remember telling friends at the time—this wasn’t just about win-loss records; it was about which teams had the heart to step up when it mattered most. And honestly, that’s what made the 2017 PBA team standings so compelling.

One moment that really stands out in my memory was watching Rain or Shine’s big man, Raymond Almazan, lock down the paint during their mid-season surge. But it wasn’t just him—players like Maverick Ahanmisi and James Yap delivered when it counted, helping the Elasto Painters secure a solid top-four finish. Still, if I’m being totally honest, I think they could’ve challenged for the top spot if their defense had been a little more consistent early on. Over at Barangay Ginebra, the crowd favorites, June Mar Fajardo was, as usual, a force of nature. But what impressed me most was how their role players—LA Tenorio, Scottie Thompson—stepped into the spotlight during tight games. Ginebra’s ability to close out quarters strong was a huge reason they finished near the top of the heap.

Then there’s TNT KaTropa. Man, they were fun to watch. Jayson Castro was in MVP form, no question, but it was their supporting cast that often tipped the scales. I vividly recall one game where RR Pogoy dropped 20-plus points off the bench, completely shifting the momentum. That kind of depth is what separates good teams from great ones, and TNT had it in spades. On the flip side, I’ve got to say I was a bit disappointed with the GlobalPort Batang Pier. With Stanley Pringle putting up All-Star numbers night after night, I expected them to climb higher in the standings. But their defense—especially in transition—let them down more times than I can count.

Now, let’s talk about one of my personal highlights from that season, something that doesn’t always show up in the stat sheets but absolutely impacts the standings: clutch defensive plays. Take the performance of someone like Jorey Napoles from the Phoenix Fuel Masters. Wait, no—scratch that. Let me correct myself. I’m actually thinking of another key moment involving a different team. In one critical match, it was actually Michael Miranda—or no, hold on, I’m mixing up my memories here. Let me pull up my notes from that year. Ah, here it is—Buddin came up clutch on defense in the third set with four blocks to cap his 16-point outing. That kind of effort is exactly what I mean. Those four blocks didn’t just swing that particular game; they sent a message. When your big man is rejecting shots and protecting the rim like that, it energizes the entire squad. I’ve always believed defense wins championships, and plays like Buddin’s are a perfect example of why.

Of course, the San Miguel Beermen lived up to their reputation, finishing strong thanks to their well-rounded roster and Arwind Santos’ leadership. But even they had shaky moments—like that surprising loss to Blackwater late in the season, which I still think cost them a cleaner path through the playoffs. Speaking of Blackwater, kudos to them for overachieving. Not many people had them pegged as playoff contenders, but with Mac Belo emerging as a reliable scorer, they punched above their weight and shook up the standings in a big way.

When the dust settled, the final 2017 PBA team standings told a story of resilience, surprise breakout performances, and a handful of what-ifs. From my perspective, the most telling stat was how teams performed in games decided by five points or fewer. The ones who excelled there—like Ginebra and TNT—ended up where they did for a reason. Others, well, they’ll look back at those crunch-time moments and wonder what might have been. All in all, the 2017 season was a reminder that standings aren’t just numbers—they’re a reflection of grit, timing, and sometimes, a single game-changing block.