Grand Slam (PBA)

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For other uses of the term "grand slam", see Grand Slam.

The Grand Slam in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) refers to a PBA team who has won all three conferences (tournaments) in a single season. However, after the PBA reduced the number of conferences from three to two beginning in 2004, the term became quite obsolete to some. However, some dispute the claim that a team who could win all titles in a season can be said as a grandslam.

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[edit] Grand Slam winners

Four teams and three franchises have achieved the said feat:

[edit] "The Pretenders"

In addition, several others won the first two conferences but were beaten on the last tournament. They are known as "The Pretenders".

  • 1975 Toyota Tamaraws (lost to Crispa in the Open Championship)
  • 1977 Crispa Redmanizers (lost to Toyota in the Open Championship)
  • 1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (missed Finals berth in the Reinforced Conference)
  • 1986 Tanduay Rhum Masters (missed Finals berth in the Open Conference)
  • 1995 Sunkist Orange Juicers (missed Finals berth in the Governors Cup)
  • 1998 Alaska Milkmen (missed Finals berth in the Governors Cup)

[edit] Modern-day Grand Slam

After the number of conferences was reduced from three to two that began in the 2004-05 season, the term grand slam became obsolete to some. However, many dispute the claim that the term should stay since it is said that a team that wins all titles in a single season is a grandslam. However, ABC Sports commentator Richard del Rosario mentioned during Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between Purefoods and Red Bull that a title win by the Bulls in the said series would give them the "modern day grand slam".

Curiously, the Barangay Ginebra Kings won the transitional 2004 Fiesta Conference, and the 2004-05 Phlilippine Cup, the first tournament of the 2004-05 season. On the suceeding 2005 Fiesta Conference, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Red Bull Barako. If the Kings won the 2005 Fiesta Conference, they could have been the last Grand Slam winners using thew three-conference format (although those three conferences are in two separate - but consecutive - seasons).

[edit] Other usages in the Philippines

The term has also come into local usage in which a team/person wins at least three consecutive championships (see "three-peat").

[edit] See also

Air21 Express Alaska Aces Barangay Ginebra Kings Coca-Cola Tigers Purefoods Chunkee Giants
Red Bull Barako San Miguel Beermen Sta. Lucia Realtors Talk N' Text Phone Pals Welcoat Dragons
Seasons | Champions - The Grand Slam | Conferences: Philippine Cup - Fiesta Conference | Defunct teams
Most Valuable Player | Current team rosters | Draft | All-Star Weekend | Hall of Fame | 25th anniversary all-time team | PBA on ABC