I still remember the chill that ran through me when I heard the final buzzer sound last night. There I was, sitting in my usual spot at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, surrounded by the electric energy of thousands of basketball fans. The air felt thick with anticipation and the lingering scent of popcorn and sweat. I’ve been covering PBA games for over a decade now, and I can usually predict how things will play out—but last night was different. The question on everyone’s lips as we filed out into the humid Manila night was simple yet loaded: Who was the PBA winner last night and how did they claim victory?

Let me paint you a picture of those final moments. The scoreboard showed 98-95 with just ten seconds left on the clock. Magnolia Hotshots had possession, and the crowd was on its feet, screaming themselves hoarse. I watched as Paul Lee dribbled past half-court, his eyes locked on the basket while San Miguel’s defense scrambled to set up. But what happened next wasn’t some miraculous buzzer-beater—it was something far more meaningful. The ball found its way to Mika Reyes near the key, and though she didn’t take the final shot, her presence on that court symbolized everything this team had overcome. When the buzzer finally blared through the arena, confetti raining down like tropical snow, I found myself choking up a little. You see, I’ve followed Mika’s career since her college days, and I’ve always believed she had championship DNA—even when others doubted.

The celebration that followed was pure catharsis. Players embraced with tears streaming down their faces, and coach Chito Victolero kept pumping his fist toward the roaring crowd. But what struck me most was watching Mika Reyes being handed the Finals MVP trophy. Her smile wasn’t just one of triumph—it was one of liberation. I managed to catch up with her during the post-game press conference, and she shared something that’s been stuck in my mind ever since. “After years of dealing with one too many ‘almosts’ in pursuit of championship glory,” she told the packed media room, her voice steady but emotional, “we’ve finally had enough of the ‘what-ifs.’ Now we can look ahead to what can still be as newly-crowned champions.” Her words resonated deeply with me because isn’t that what we all want? To stop wondering about alternate realities and start building from actual achievements?

Thinking back on this season, I can’t help but feel this victory was years in the making. Magnolia had reached the finals three times in the past five years without securing the championship—that’s 1,825 days of coming up just short, if you’re counting. I remember covering their heartbreaking 89-87 loss to Ginebra back in the 2019 Governors’ Cup, watching players collapse to the floor in devastation. What made last night different was their mental toughness. They didn’t just win—they conquered their own history. The statistics tell part of the story: Reyes averaged 16.8 points and 11.2 rebounds throughout the finals, but numbers can’t capture how she anchored the team’s spirit during crucial moments.

What I find particularly compelling about this victory is how it rewrites Magnolia’s narrative. For too long, they’ve been the “what-if” team—the talented squad that couldn’t quite cross the finish line. I’ve written at least seventeen articles over the years analyzing their near-misses, each time trying to pinpoint what was missing. Last night, I finally got my answer. It wasn’t about adding new plays or upgrading their roster—it was about developing what my coach friend calls “championship mentality.” You could see it in how they maintained composure during San Miguel’s fourth-quarter rally, how they never panicked when their lead dwindled from 12 points to just 3 in the final three minutes.

Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for teams that overcome their demons. Maybe it’s because I’ve faced my own professional setbacks—the stories I almost broke, the interviews I nearly landed. Watching Magnolia finally break through felt strangely personal. When Ian Sangalang made that crucial block with 1:42 remaining, I found myself leaping from my seat alongside everyone else, my reporter’s objectivity be damned. Sometimes sports transcend being just games—they become metaphors for our own struggles.

The aftermath in the locker room was pure joy. I’ve been in many championship locker rooms throughout my career, but this one felt different—less about celebration and more about validation. Players weren’t just spraying champagne; they were hugging each other with a sense of relief that bordered on spiritual. Jio Jalalon, who contributed 14 points and 8 assists, kept repeating “We did it” like a mantra, as if trying to convince himself it was real. And Mark Barroca, the veteran guard who’s been with Magnolia through all their heartbreaks, simply sat in the corner with a serene smile, occasionally wiping tears from his eyes.

As I walked out of the arena around 2 AM, the streets of Quezon City were still buzzing with fans reliving every moment. Groups clustered around food stalls, animatedly discussing key plays while devouring late-night tapsilog. I overheard one young fan telling his friends, “Ngayon, alam na natin kung sino ang PBA winner kagabi at paano nila nakuha ang tagumpay!” His enthusiasm was infectious. This victory wasn’t just for the players—it was for everyone who’d stayed loyal through years of almost-there seasons.

Reflecting on it all this morning, I keep returning to Mika’s words about leaving “what-ifs” behind. There’s something profoundly human about that sentiment. Whether in sports or life, we all carry our own versions of “almost”—the opportunities we nearly seized, the words we almost said, the victories we came close to achieving. What Magnolia taught us last night is that breaking that cycle requires more than skill—it demands the courage to rewrite your own story. Their victory wasn’t just about winning a basketball game; it was about proving that past disappointments don’t have to define future possibilities. And honestly, I can’t think of a more beautiful answer to the question of who was the PBA winner last night and how they claimed victory.