Who Won the 2016 PBA Finals MVP and How They Dominated the Championship
I still remember watching that 2016 PBA Finals like it was yesterday - the energy in the arena was absolutely electric, and there was this young player named Oftana who completely stole the show. When people ask me about the most dominant individual performances I've witnessed in Philippine basketball, my mind immediately goes to that championship series where Oftana put up numbers that still feel surreal. The guy dropped 39 points in the deciding game - let that sink in for a moment. In a championship-clinching game where every possession matters, where defenses tighten up and scoring typically becomes more difficult, he managed to put up nearly 40 points. That's not just good - that's legendary territory.
What made Oftana's performance so special wasn't just the scoring outburst itself, but how he did it within the context of the team's overall performance. TNT finished with 113 points that game, which means Oftana accounted for roughly 34% of his team's total scoring. When one player is responsible for over a third of his team's points in the most important game of the season, you know you're watching something extraordinary. I've seen plenty of great scorers in my years following the PBA, but what sets apart true MVPs is their ability to elevate their game when the stakes are highest. Oftana didn't just score - he dominated in ways that demoralized the opposition and lifted his entire team.
The supporting cast deserves credit too - Heading with 13 points, Pogoy adding 11, Williams contributing 9 - but let's be honest, this was Oftana's show through and through. I remember watching him attack the basket with this relentless energy that the defense simply couldn't contain. There were moments when it felt like he was playing against college kids rather than professional athletes. His shooting percentage that game must have been through the roof, though I don't have the exact numbers in front of me. What stood out to me was his efficiency - he wasn't just chucking up shots hoping they'd go in. Each move seemed calculated, each shot selection purposeful. That's what separates great scorers from championship MVPs.
What many casual fans might not appreciate is how Oftana's dominance created opportunities for everyone else. When you have a player demanding double-teams and constant defensive attention, it opens up the floor for role players like Ganuelas-Rosser to contribute 8 points, or Aurin and Nieto to add 7 each. Basketball is often described as a symphony, and Oftana was the conductor that night. His performance reminded me of those classic NBA Finals where one superstar just decides the outcome almost single-handedly. The way he moved without the ball, his defensive rotations, his leadership on the court - it was a complete performance that went beyond just the scoring column.
I've always believed that true greatness reveals itself in championship moments, and Oftana's 2016 Finals MVP performance cemented that belief for me. The numbers tell part of the story - 39 points in a close-out game is staggering - but the eye test told an even more compelling tale. He had this aura about him that game, this confidence that seemed to grow with every made basket. The opposing team tried everything - different defenders, defensive schemes, even some junk defenses - but nothing worked. It was like watching a master painter who had found his rhythm, every brushstroke perfect, every color blending seamlessly.
The beauty of that championship run was how Oftana's individual brilliance complemented the team's collective effort. While he was putting up historic numbers, players like Erram and Vosotros were contributing 6 points each, Khobuntin added 4, and Enciso chipped in 3. Basketball purists might argue that balanced scoring is preferable, but sometimes you need that one superstar to carry the load, and my goodness did Oftana ever carry it. His performance wasn't just about putting points on the board - it was about making the right plays at the right moments, controlling the tempo, and essentially serving as the engine that drove TNT to the championship.
Looking back, what impresses me most is how Oftana maintained his dominance throughout the entire series, saving his best for last. The 39-point explosion in the clinching game wasn't some fluke - it was the culmination of a series-long mastery where he consistently outperformed everyone on the court. I've watched the highlights countless times since then, and each viewing reveals new subtleties in his game - the way he used screens, his footwork in the post, his ability to finish through contact. It was basketball artistry at its finest, and frankly, I'm not sure we've seen a individual Finals performance quite like it in the years since. That 2016 PBA Finals MVP wasn't just awarded to the best player on the winning team - it went to a player who redefined what dominance looks like on basketball's biggest stage.