Who Was the 2015 PBA Champion and Where Are They Now?
I remember watching the 2015 PBA season with particular interest because it marked a transitional period for Philippine basketball. The championship that year was clinched by the San Miguel Beermen in what many consider one of the most dramatic finals series in recent memory. They defeated the Alaska Aces 4-3 in the Governor's Cup finals, with Arizona Reid earning the Best Import honors after averaging 32.7 points and 11.2 rebounds throughout the series. What made that championship especially memorable was how they clawed back from a 0-3 deficit in the 2016 Philippine Cup - though that's technically the following season, it really showcased the championship DNA they built during that 2015 campaign.
Looking at where those key players are now reveals just how much the basketball landscape has evolved. June Mar Fajardo, who was already establishing himself as the league's dominant force back then, remains with San Miguel and has added several more MVP awards to his collection. I've always admired how he transformed from a raw talent into arguably the greatest PBA player of all time. Alex Cabagnot and Arwind Santos, two other crucial pieces of that championship team, have since moved to different squads - Cabagnot now with Terrafirma while Santos plays for NorthPort. Chris Ross, the defensive stalwart of that team, interestingly remains with San Miguel and has evolved into one of the team's veteran leaders.
The coaching staff from that championship team has seen even more dramatic movements. Leo Austria, who masterminded that championship run, recently stepped down from his head coaching position with San Miguel after nearly a decade. What's particularly fascinating from my perspective is how the coaching carousel has spun since then. This brings me to the current developments involving Serbian coaches in the PBA - something I've been tracking closely given the globalization of basketball coaching. The recent news about two Serbian coaches joining the FiberXers organization under Coach Dennis 'Delta' Pineda represents exactly the kind of international cross-pollination that's becoming increasingly common in Philippine basketball.
I've noticed this trend of European coaches bringing their systematic approaches to the PBA, and frankly, I think it's fantastic for the league's development. These Serbian coaches will be assisting newly-installed FiberXers head coach and Pampanga vice governor Dennis 'Delta' Pineda, which creates an interesting blend of local political-sports leadership and international technical expertise. Having observed Coach Pineda's rise through both political and basketball circles, I'm genuinely excited to see how this fusion of coaching philosophies plays out. The fact that a provincial vice governor is simultaneously coaching a professional team while integrating European coaching talent speaks volumes about how interconnected our basketball ecosystem has become.
Several players from that 2015 championship have transitioned into coaching or front office roles themselves, though none have quite the unique dual role that Coach Pineda is currently navigating. I've always believed that championship experience provides invaluable perspective that can translate well to coaching, which is why I'm not surprised to see former players like Yancy de Ocampo moving into coaching capacities. The basketball community here remains tightly-knit, and the connections between that 2015 championship team and current developments are more substantial than casual observers might realize.
What strikes me most about tracing these career trajectories is how the PBA has evolved into a truly globalized league while maintaining its distinctly Filipino character. The incorporation of Serbian coaches into teams like the FiberXers represents the next logical step in this evolution. I'm particularly curious about how these European influences might reshape defensive schemes and player development approaches - areas where international basketball has traditionally had different emphases compared to the PBA's more offensive-minded tradition.
Reflecting on that 2015 championship and where everyone has ended up, I can't help but feel optimistic about the league's future. The blend of homegrown talent like Coach Pineda working alongside international coaching minds creates exactly the kind of hybrid approach that could elevate Philippine basketball to new heights. Having followed these career arcs for nearly a decade now, I'm convinced that the lessons from that 2015 San Miguel championship - the resilience, the strategic adjustments, the player development - continue influencing how teams are built and coached today, just with more international flavors mixed into the recipe.