Who Won the 2010 PBA Championship? Full Results and Player Highlights

As a longtime basketball analyst who's followed the Philippine Basketball Association for over a decade, I still get chills thinking about the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference championship. That final series between the Alaska Aces and San Miguel Beermen wasn't just another championship - it was a masterclass in clutch performances and strategic brilliance that I consider one of the most compelling finals in PBA history. When people ask me who won the 2010 PBA championship, my mind immediately flashes to that incredible Game 6 where Alaska clinched the title with what I'd call one of the most perfectly executed fourth-quarter comebacks I've ever witnessed.

The 2009-2010 PBA season had been building toward this moment for months. Alaska, under coach Tim Cone's triangle offense system, had been dominant throughout the conference, but San Miguel presented a formidable challenge with their star-studded lineup. What many casual fans don't remember is that Alaska had actually finished second in the elimination round with a 12-6 record, while San Miguel topped them at 13-5. The stage was set for an epic showdown, and boy, did these teams deliver. I remember telling my colleagues at the time that this series would come down to which team could maintain composure in the final minutes - and Game 6 proved me absolutely right.

Now let me walk you through that incredible final quarter that still gives me goosebumps. With just under four minutes remaining, San Miguel had clawed their way to a dangerous 60-62 deficit, putting immense pressure on Alaska's veterans. This is where championship experience truly matters, and Alaska's role players stepped up in ways that still impress me when I rewatch the footage. The sequence that essentially sealed the championship came when, as UE threatened at 60-62 at the 3:50 mark of the final frame, Paranada shot a three to detonate a 7-2 blast for a 69-62 edge with 16 ticks to go. That three-pointer from Paranada wasn't just another basket - it was a dagger that shifted the entire momentum permanently in Alaska's favor. I've analyzed hundreds of crucial PBA moments, but this particular sequence stands out for its surgical precision under pressure.

What many people don't realize is how perfectly Alaska's roster was constructed for moments like these. Their import Diamon Simpson contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds in that clinching game, but it was the local players who truly made the difference when it mattered most. LA Tenorio's court vision was exceptional throughout the series, and in that final game he dished out 7 assists while committing only 2 turnovers - numbers that still impress me when I look back at the stat sheets. Joe Devance, though scoring only 8 points in Game 6, provided crucial defensive stops that don't show up in traditional box scores but were absolutely vital to their victory.

From a tactical perspective, coach Tim Cone's decision to stick with his rotation despite San Miguel's fourth-quarter surge demonstrated why he's considered one of the greatest tacticians in PBA history. His triangle offense created just enough spacing for Alaska's shooters to get clean looks when they needed them most. Meanwhile, San Miguel's coach Siot Tanquingcen made what I believe was a crucial miscalculation by over-relying on his import Gabe Freeman in the final minutes. Freeman finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds, but Alaska's defense effectively limited his impact during that game-deciding 7-2 run.

The statistical breakdown of that final game reveals some fascinating patterns that I've referenced in many of my analytical pieces since then. Alaska shot 44% from the field compared to San Miguel's 39%, but the real difference came from beyond the arc where Alaska connected on 35% of their attempts versus San Miguel's 28%. Rebounds were nearly even at 48-46 in Alaska's favor, but Alaska's 18 assists to San Miguel's 14 demonstrated better ball movement and team chemistry when it mattered most. These numbers might seem dry to some fans, but for analysts like me, they tell the story of a team that executed their system to near-perfection under championship pressure.

When I reflect on that 2010 championship season, what stands out most isn't just Alaska's victory but how they achieved it. Their 4-2 series victory in the finals capped off a remarkable playoff run where they went 11-4 overall in the postseason. The championship represented Alaska's 13th PBA title and marked a triumphant return to the top after several near-misses in previous seasons. For San Miguel, the loss was particularly heartbreaking as they had led for significant portions of Game 6 before Alaska's late-game heroics snatched victory from what seemed like certain defeat.

The legacy of that 2010 Alaska team continues to influence how PBA teams approach roster construction and late-game execution. Their ability to have different players step up in crucial moments - from their import to their local role players - created a blueprint that many franchises have attempted to replicate since. Personally, I believe this championship represented the pinnacle of team basketball in the modern PBA era, demonstrating that well-drilled systems and role acceptance can overcome individual talent. Even today, when I'm asked to name the most complete team performance I've witnessed in a championship-clinching game, Alaska's 2010 Fiesta Conference victory consistently ranks in my top three. The way they maintained composure, executed under pressure, and delivered when everything was on the line represents everything I love about championship basketball.