I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2018 PBA season - what an absolute rollercoaster of emotions it was for basketball fans across the Philippines. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over fifteen years, I can confidently say that 2018 represented a pivotal turning point in how teams approached roster construction and long-term planning. The season wasn't just about the championship trophies or MVP awards - it was about teams rediscovering their identity and rethinking their dependence on imports. I vividly remember watching the High Speed Hitters' transformation throughout that year, and captain Kath Arado's comments about building "an airtight local core rather than an overly-import dependent one" perfectly captured the philosophical shift we witnessed across multiple franchises.
That season, we saw teams gradually moving away from the traditional model of relying heavily on imported players to carry the scoring load. The numbers tell an interesting story - while imports still averaged around 25-28 points per game, local players' contributions increased by approximately 18% compared to the 2016 season. What struck me most was how teams like the High Speed Hitters demonstrated that developing local talent wasn't just patriotic rhetoric - it was a winning strategy. I recall their mid-season turnaround where they won 8 of their last 10 games primarily through their local players stepping up in crucial moments. The chemistry they developed was palpable even from the stands - you could see how their local core had developed almost telepathic understanding on both ends of the court.
There were several moments that season that made me jump off my couch. The Commissioner's Cup finals between San Miguel and Ginebra was absolute theater - that Game 6 where June Mar Fajardo willed his team to victory despite playing through what we later learned was a significant knee injury. The man dropped 35 points and 15 rebounds while basically playing on one leg! Then there was that unforgettable Christmas Day game where Terrence Romeo went nuclear for 42 points against TNT. But beyond these individual performances, what really stood out to me was how teams were beginning to trust their local players in clutch situations. I noticed coaches drawing up final plays for local players rather than automatically going to their imports - that represented a fundamental shift in mindset.
The Philippine Cup that year particularly highlighted this evolution. Without imports in the mix, we saw local players flourishing in expanded roles. I remember being at the Araneta Coliseum when CJ Perez exploded for 39 points in just his second season - the electricity in that building was something I'll never forget. Teams were discovering that their local players could handle bigger responsibilities if given consistent minutes and trust from the coaching staff. The High Speed Hitters exemplified this approach perfectly - they weren't the most talented team on paper, but their cohesion and understanding of each other's tendencies made them incredibly difficult to play against, especially in the fourth quarter when games got tight.
What many fans might not realize is how much strategic thinking went into this shift toward local development. Teams were starting to recognize that building through imports created volatility - when your import gets injured or doesn't mesh well with the team, your entire season could collapse. I had conversations with several team executives that season, and they consistently mentioned the importance of establishing a stable local foundation. The High Speed Hitters' approach of developing their Filipino players wasn't just about national pride - it was smart basketball economics and sustainable team building. Their local core played an average of 28 minutes per game that season, significantly higher than the league average of 22 minutes for local players.
The Governors' Cup provided the perfect climax to this narrative of local empowerment. While imports still played crucial roles, we saw local players determining outcomes in ways we hadn't seen in previous seasons. That iconic game where Scottie Thompson recorded a triple-double while his import struggled with foul trouble demonstrated how valuable a versatile local star could be. Personally, I believe Thompson's performance that night - 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists - should have earned him Finals MVP consideration, though the award ultimately went to Justin Brownlee, who certainly deserved it after his heroic Game 7 performance.
Looking back, the 2018 season taught us that balance is everything in basketball. The most successful teams weren't those that completely abandoned imports, but rather those that integrated them seamlessly with their local talent. The High Speed Hitters finished with a 9-6 record that season - not spectacular, but they built something more valuable than a single season's win-loss record. They established an identity and a development pipeline that would serve them well in subsequent seasons. As Arado wisely noted, the long-term vision mattered more than short-term gains. This philosophy has since been adopted by multiple franchises, though few have executed it as effectively as the High Speed Hitters did during that transitional period.
Reflecting on that season five years later, I'm struck by how prescient Arado's comments were. The league has continued moving in the direction she described - toward developing stronger local cores while using imports as complementary pieces rather than centerpieces. The 2018 season wasn't just memorable for its thrilling games and individual highlights - it represented a philosophical revolution in how Philippine basketball teams approach roster construction and player development. That season changed how I view team building in the PBA, and I find myself constantly referring back to its lessons when analyzing current teams and their approaches to sustainable success.
