PBA Finals 2022 Standings: Complete Team Rankings and Playoff Results

Looking back at the 2022 PBA Finals, I still get chills remembering how unpredictable the playoffs turned out to be. As someone who’s followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I’ve rarely seen a season with so many momentum swings and underdog stories. The standings didn’t just reflect wins and losses—they told a story of grit, strategy, and moments of individual brilliance that defined each team’s journey. I’ll admit, I had my favorites from the start, but the playoffs had a way of humbling even the most confident predictions.

One of the most gripping moments came during a game where Perpetual, a team many had written off early in the season, flipped the script entirely in the third quarter. I remember watching that game live, thinking they were done for—until Mark Gojo Cruz stepped up with back-to-back triples that just electrified the entire arena. That 18-point downpour wasn’t just a scoring run; it was a statement. It shifted the energy on the court and, frankly, reshaped my view of what a team could achieve when their backs were against the wall. That quarter alone accounted for nearly 40% of their total points in the second half, a stat that still stands out in my mind.

The playoff results, in many ways, mirrored that kind of resilience across the board. Teams like Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer brought their trademark composure, but it was the mid-tier squads that really captured my attention. Take TNT Tropang Giga, for example—they clawed their way through the eliminations with a 9–2 record, but even they faced scares from lower-ranked teams that refused to roll over. I’ve always believed that the PBA’s beauty lies in its parity, and the 2022 season proved it. You couldn’t take any game for granted, not even when a team was leading by double digits.

When I analyze the final standings, what strikes me is how tightly packed the middle of the table was. Only a two-game separation divided the 4th and 6th seeds, which made every possession in the elimination round feel like a finals game. I recall talking to coaches who mentioned the mental toll that takes—knowing that one missed free throw or one defensive lapse could cost you a playoff spot. And it showed in the numbers: the average margin of victory in games between those mid-table teams was just 4.5 points, one of the lowest in PBA history. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a testament to how competitive the league has become.

From a strategic standpoint, I was particularly impressed by how teams adjusted their rotations based on opponent tendencies. Coaches weren’t afraid to experiment—sometimes to a fault. I remember one semifinal match where a coach benched his star player for the entire fourth quarter, a move that had fans and analysts, including myself, scratching our heads. It backfired, and they lost by 8 points. But you have to respect the guts it takes to make such calls under pressure. It’s those kinds of decisions that separate contenders from champions, and in 2022, the margin for error was razor-thin.

Another aspect that stood out to me was the role of three-point shooting in deciding key games. Beyond Perpetual’s explosive run, teams that shot above 35% from beyond the arc in the playoffs won nearly 70% of their games. That’s a staggering figure, and it underscores how the game has evolved. I’ve always been a proponent of inside-out basketball, but seeing those numbers made me reconsider the value of stretching the floor—especially in a league where big men are becoming more versatile.

As the finals approached, the intensity reached a fever pitch. The clash between the top two teams was everything a basketball purist could ask for: high stakes, legendary players, and coaching chess matches. Game 4, in particular, was a masterclass in execution. One team mounted a 15-point comeback in the last six minutes, a feat I haven’t seen replicated since. I still rewatch that game from time to time, analyzing the defensive switches and the clutch shooting. It’s games like that which remind me why I fell in love with the sport.

In the end, the 2022 PBA season was more than just a championship race—it was a showcase of heart and unpredictability. The standings, while clear on paper, don’t fully capture the drama that unfolded quarter by quarter. As a longtime follower of the league, I walked away with a renewed appreciation for the underdogs and the strategic nuances that make Philippine basketball so unique. If there’s one lesson from that season, it’s that no lead is safe, and no team is out until the final buzzer sounds. And honestly, that’s what keeps us all coming back for more.