I remember watching that 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals like it was yesterday - the energy at Philsports Arena was absolutely electric when San Mig Coffee defeated Talk 'N Text 100-91 on May 15. That game wasn't just about scoring baskets; it was a masterclass in net basketball strategy that changed how I approach coaching to this day. You see, what made that San Mig Coffee team so special wasn't their offense - it was their incredible understanding of positioning, timing, and court awareness around the net. They understood something fundamental that most amateur players overlook: great net play isn't about spectacular dunks, it's about consistently making smart decisions in those critical moments when the ball is near the basket.
Let me share something I've observed after twenty years of coaching basketball - players spend about 80% of their practice time on shooting drills but only about 15% on actual net positioning and rebounding techniques. That imbalance shows during game situations. When I analyze that 2014 championship game, what stood out was how San Mig Coffee's big men established position. They weren't just taller or stronger - they were smarter about using angles and timing their jumps. There's a particular sequence from that game I often show my players: with 3:42 left in the third quarter, San Mig had three consecutive offensive rebounds before finally scoring. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because their players had drilled specific footwork patterns that allowed them to anticipate where the ball would carom off the rim.
The truth is, most players approach net basketball all wrong. They focus entirely on vertical jumping when what really matters is establishing position before you even leave the ground. I've developed what I call the "three-point contact" system for net play - it involves foot positioning, hip placement, and arm positioning that creates space naturally rather than through brute force. When I train athletes, we spend hours just on the subtle art of using your body as a barrier without committing fouls. It's not the most glamorous part of basketball, but it's what separates good teams from championship teams like that 2014 San Mig Coffee squad.
What fascinates me about that specific championship game is how the Mixers adapted their net strategy mid-game. They started with a traditional box-out approach but shifted to what I'd describe as "zone-angled positioning" after the first quarter. Instead of strictly matching up player-to-player, they created overlapping zones of responsibility around the key. This allowed them to secure 47 rebounds compared to Talk 'N Text's 39 - a significant differential in a professional game. The numbers don't lie: teams that win the rebounding battle by 8 or more typically win about 78% of their games according to my own tracking of professional leagues.
I'm personally not a fan of the current trend where coaches emphasize three-point shooting at the expense of net play fundamentals. Don't get me wrong - three-pointers are important, but they come and go. Strong net play gives you consistency. That 2014 San Mig team understood this perfectly. They shot only 32% from beyond the arc that game but dominated inside scoring with 52 points in the paint. That's the kind of balanced attack I always strive to develop in my teams. You need both perimeter shooting and interior dominance, but if I had to choose one, I'd take strong net play every time.
Another aspect most players ignore is the mental game around the net. There's what I call "rebounding anticipation" - the ability to read the shooter's form, the arc of the ball, and even the game situation to predict where the ball will end up. In that championship game, I noticed San Mig's players consistently positioning themselves where missed shots were likely to go based on who was shooting and from where. This isn't guesswork - it's a skill developed through film study and court awareness. I make my players watch at least two hours of game footage weekly specifically focusing on shot trajectories and rebounding patterns.
The equipment matters more than people think too. I'm pretty particular about this - the right basketball shoes can improve your net play by giving you that extra split-second in reaction time. Not all basketball shoes are created equal when it comes to quick lateral movements and explosive jumping. I've tested over two dozen models in the past five years, and I can tell you that the difference between the best and worst shoes for net play can be as much as 3-4 rebounds per game for an elite player. That might not sound like much, but in a close game, those extra possessions are everything.
What I love about focusing on net basketball is that it's the great equalizer. You don't need to be the tallest player on the court to excel - you need to be the smartest, the most determined, and the most technically sound. Some of the best net players I've coached were undersized but understood positioning better than anyone. They had what I call "rebounding intuition" - that almost sixth sense for where the ball will be. This is something anyone can develop with proper training and attention to detail. It's not magic, though it might look like it when you see players consistently in the right place at the right time.
Looking back at that 2014 championship, what made San Mig Coffee's performance so instructive was how they integrated individual net skills into a cohesive team strategy. Each player had specific responsibilities that complemented others. Their system created what I describe as "rebounding cascades" - where if one player missed securing the ball, another was perfectly positioned to clean it up. This level of coordination doesn't happen overnight. It requires countless hours of practice and a deep understanding of each teammate's tendencies and strengths. That's the ultimate lesson from that game - net basketball excellence is both an individual skill and a team art form that, when mastered, can elevate an entire team's performance to championship level, just as we witnessed that memorable night at Philsports Arena.