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The 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals was the best-of-7 series basketball championship of the 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The Gordon's Gin Boars and Alaska Milkmen played for the 67th championship contested by the league.

Gordon's Gin Boars finally ended a six-year title drought, winning their finals series over Alaska Milkmen, 4 games to 2.

Qualification

Series scoring summary

Games summary

Game 1

Chris King registered a triple-double of 40 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, as he figured in Gordon's key third quarter assault when they grabbed a 55–52 lead. Alaska had one last chance to stage a reversal late in the game but King took command, giving the Boars a 94–84 bubble with a minute to go.

Game 2

Chris King, despite suffering a pulled left hamstring, never gave up, he hits the dagger three-pointer from a Marlou Aquino pass with 37.2 seconds left to give the Boars a four-point lead. Doctors later found out that King had a strained ligament and a partial tear on his left hamstring.

Game 3

The Boars pulled through a down-the-wire final minute with import Chris King's inside basket and Pido Jarencio's key triple as the Milkmen succumbed to turnovers and missed attempts in their last possessions. Jarencio waxes hot with seven triples, five in the final half, on a 7-of-8 shooting from the three-point range. Alaska had one last crack to win the game but Dwight Lago's jumper went all air as Gordon's takes a 3–0 lead.

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

A decisive 33–5 run in the third quarter as the Boars' avalanche of points blew the game wide open. Gordon's steamrolled to a 30-point lead at 79–49, going into the fourth quarter, while limiting Alaska to an all-time lowest score of five points in a quarter.

Awards

• Finals MVP: Marlou Aquino (Gordon's Gin)
• Best Player of the Conference: Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)

Rosters

Gordon's Gin Boars roster

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Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 1 David, Bal 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 148 lb (67 kg) UST F 6 Locsin, Noli 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 250 lb (113 kg) De La Salle G 7 Jaworski, Robert 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) UE F 9 De Joya, Macky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) San Beda G/F 11 Gayoso, Jayvee 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Ateneo G 12 Hizon, Vince 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Ateneo C 13 Aquino, Marlou 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Adamson G 15 Orquillas, Michael 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Cebu F 16 Cheng, Benny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mapúa F 17 Saldaña, Antero 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Letran F/C 18 Ong, Wilmer 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 245 lb (111 kg) USLS C 24 Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U G 25 Jarencio, Pido 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) UST F 44 King, Chris (I) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Wake Forest G 52 Jaworski, Jr., Robert 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Ateneo	Head coach Robert Jaworski Assistant coach(es) Rino Salazar Philip Cezar Team manager Bernabe Navarro Legend (C) Team captain (CI) Commissioner's Cup Import (GI) Governors' Cup Import (EI) EASL Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie (I) Import Injured

Alaska Milkmen roster

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Players

Coaches

Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From F 5 Holland, Kevin (I) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 219 lb (99 kg) DePaul G/F 6 Lastimosa, Jojo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) USJ–R G 7 Gomez, Roehl 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Cebu G/F 9 Santos, Rodney 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) San Sebastian G 10 Fernandez, Boyet 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) San Agustin F/C 12 Bachmann, Dickie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) De La Salle G 14 Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Far Eastern G/F 15 Lago, Dwight 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) De La Salle F 16 Hawkins, Bong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UPHSD C 17 Ramas, Kevin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Mapúa C 29 Otto, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Far Eastern C 32 Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Philippines G/F 44 Castelo, Merwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 186 lb (84 kg) San Beda C 51 Punzalan, Bryant 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Far Eastern

Head coach Tim Cone Assistant coach(es) Joel Banal Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Injured

Broadcast notes

References

1. "Scent of title gets stronger for Gordon's". Manila Standard.
2. "Gordon's Gin ends 6-year drought". Manila Standard.
3. "Abarrientos named best player". Manila Standard.

External links

• PBA official website

• 1997 PBA season
• PBA Commissioner's Cup finals
• Alaska Aces (PBA) games
• Barangay Ginebra San Miguel games
• August 1997 sports events in Asia
• September 1997 sports events in Asia