PBA Finals Game 4 Highlights and Key Takeaways You Need to See

I still remember the first time I heard Coach Pido's famous pre-game speech back in 2016 - "Push the ball, control the tempo, and play with heart!" That was during his tenure with the NLEX Road Warriors, and honestly, I thought his coaching philosophy would become timeless. But watching Game 4 of the PBA Finals between San Miguel and Ginebra last night, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe the 'Pido-isms' aren't really built for this generation anymore. The game ended 102-95 in favor of San Miguel, tying the series at 2-2, but what fascinated me more than the final score was how basketball has evolved beyond traditional coaching mantras.

The fourth quarter was particularly telling. With 7:32 remaining and Ginebra trailing by just three points, San Miguel's CJ Perez went on an absolute tear, scoring 12 of his game-high 28 points in that final stretch. What stood out to me wasn't just his scoring - it was how the game has transformed into something more analytical, more data-driven than the emotional appeals that defined Pido's era. I've been covering Philippine basketball for fifteen years now, and I've never seen such a stark contrast between old-school coaching and modern execution. San Miguel attempted 38 three-pointers, making 14 of them at a 36.8% clip - numbers that would have been unimaginable a decade ago when Pido's coaching philosophy was at its peak.

June Mar Fajardo's performance was another case study in modern basketball evolution. The Kraken finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds, but what the stat sheet doesn't show is how his game has adapted. He attempted three three-pointers - something he would never have done under more traditional systems. Watching him space the floor while Christian Standhardinger operated in the paint was basketball poetry. It reminded me of something a European coach told me last year: "The Philippines is catching up to global trends, but the coaching philosophies need to evolve faster." Ginebra, for their part, stuck to more conventional approaches, and while Scottie Thompson's triple-double (18 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) was impressive, it felt like watching a classic rock band trying to compete with modern electronic music - both are valid, but one clearly resonates more with today's audience.

What really struck me as someone who's analyzed hundreds of PBA games was the pace and spacing. San Miguel averaged 98.3 possessions per 48 minutes, significantly higher than the league average of 91.2. They moved the ball with purpose, recording 28 assists compared to Ginebra's 22. The game has become less about emotional rallies and more about systematic execution. I found myself thinking about how different this was from the games I covered in the early 2010s, where Pido's fiery timeouts and motivational speeches could genuinely swing momentum. Last night, it felt like the players were operating on a different wavelength - they responded to data, to analytics, to pre-planned schemes rather than emotional cues.

The defensive adjustments throughout the game were particularly fascinating from a tactical perspective. San Miguel switched to a zone defense for approximately 12 minutes of game time, holding Ginebra to just 18 points during those stretches. This strategic flexibility is something that traditional coaching philosophies often struggle with. I remember interviewing Coach Pido back in 2018, and he emphasized the importance of sticking to defensive principles rather than constantly adjusting. Last night's game proved that modern basketball requires both - principles and adaptability.

As the final buzzer sounded, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd witnessed more than just a basketball game. It was a demonstration of how the sport is evolving right here in the Philippines. The players are smarter, more analytical, and frankly, they're responding to different coaching methods than what worked a generation ago. The raw emotion and traditional wisdom that made Pido's approach so effective now needs to be balanced with data, flexibility, and a deeper understanding of modern player psychology. This series is tied now, but regardless of who lifts the championship trophy, what's clear to me is that Philippine basketball has entered a new era - one where the old mantras need to be reinterpreted for a generation that thinks about the game differently.