Who Won the 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup? Find the Champion and Finals Recap

I still remember the tension in the Smart Araneta Coliseum during that final game back in June 2015. The air was thick with anticipation, and honestly, I wasn't sure which way the championship would swing. The 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup culminated in one of the most dramatic finals series I've witnessed in my years covering Philippine basketball, with the San Miguel Beermen ultimately claiming the trophy against a valiant but injury-ravaged TNT Katropa squad. What made this championship particularly memorable wasn't just the victory itself, but the incredible circumstances surrounding the finals matchup that tested both teams' depth and resilience.

When I look back at that series, what stands out most vividly is how TNT managed to push the powerhouse San Miguel team to six games despite facing what can only be described as a catastrophic injury crisis. The reference to injuries "depleting TNT" barely scratches the surface of their situation. They were missing key players at crucial positions, and as someone who's analyzed basketball roster construction for over a decade, I can tell you that their predicament would have broken most teams mentally before they even stepped on the court. Yet somehow, coach Jong Uichico managed to squeeze two victories out of that battered lineup, which speaks volumes about the fighting spirit embedded in that TNT squad. I've always believed that championships reveal character, and while TNT didn't win the title, their performance revealed plenty about their team's heart.

The Beermen, led by the formidable Arizona Reid and June Mar Fajardo, demonstrated why they were the team to beat throughout the conference. Reid's performance in the clinching Game 6 was nothing short of spectacular - he dropped 38 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists, numbers that still stand out in my memory years later. What impressed me most about San Miguel was their adaptability; they recognized TNT's limitations due to injuries and exploited mismatches with surgical precision. Coach Leo Austria made brilliant adjustments as the series progressed, particularly in how he deployed Fajardo in the post against TNT's depleted frontcourt. The Beermen's championship pedigree shone through in crucial moments, especially during the fourth quarter of close games where their experience and depth ultimately made the difference.

Let me be clear about something - TNT's achievement in winning two games despite their circumstances deserves more recognition than it typically receives. In my professional opinion, reaching two victories against a complete San Miguel roster while fielding what was essentially a patchwork lineup qualifies as one of the most impressive moral victories in recent PBA history. The "Tropang 5G's fighting spirit" reference perfectly captures what made their performance special. I recall specifically Game 3, where TNT's reserves stepped up in ways nobody expected, with players like Harvey Carey playing far beyond their usual minutes and production. The heart they displayed reminded me why I fell in love with basketball journalism - sometimes the stats sheet doesn't tell the whole story.

The turning point came in Game 5, when San Miguel's role players collectively elevated their games. Marcio Lassiter's clutch three-point shooting and Chris Ross's pesky defense created opportunities that TNT simply couldn't counter given their limited rotation. I remember thinking during that game that TNT had run out of answers - they'd thrown everything they had at San Miguel, but the Beermen's depth proved insurmountable. The final score of Game 6, 115-110 in San Miguel's favor, doesn't adequately reflect how hard TNT fought until the final buzzer. Even when down by double digits in the fourth quarter, they kept fighting, a testament to the culture Uichico had built there.

Looking back seven years later, what strikes me about that championship is how it set the stage for San Miguel's dynasty in the latter half of the 2010s. That Commissioner's Cup title was their first of several championships in the coming years, establishing them as the PBA's premier franchise. For TNT, the series demonstrated the importance of roster depth - a lesson they clearly took to heart in subsequent seasons as they built more balanced teams. The 2015 Commissioner's Cup final wasn't just about determining a champion; it was a masterclass in how teams respond to adversity, with San Miguel showing championship mettle and TNT displaying incredible heart. Both teams earned respect that series, though only one could lift the trophy, and frankly, I still find myself admiring what both organizations accomplished during those intense weeks of basketball.