1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season

The 1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season on their 7th season in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

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Summary

After a near-grandslam finish last year, the Sunkist Orange Bottlers failed to advance in the semifinal round in all three conferences of the 1996 season. In the All-Filipino Cup, from an even 3-3 won-loss slate in the first round of eliminations, ^[2] the Orange Bottlers dropped six straight games in the second round and were ousted from the semifinals, forward Nelson Asaytono was traded to San Miguel for 1992 MVP Ato Agustin with three games left in their elimination round schedule.

The Orange Bottlers brought in former Alaska import Marques Bragg in the Commissioner's Cup, after losing their first two games, Bragg led Sunkist to their first win against Purefoods, 97-93 on June 21, ^[3] after the eliminations, Sunkist were tied with Purefoods and Formula Shell for the fourth and fifth slot in the semifinals, Shell advances into the next round via tie-breaker, leaving Purefoods and Sunkist to dispute the last seat, the Orange Bottlers lost to Purefoods, 76-89, in their playoff game on July 30.

Tony Harris came back as their import in the Governor's Cup, leading Sunkist to a 93-91 opening day win over defending champion Alaska Milk on September 29, ^[4] the Orange Bottlers lost two straight games to Shell and Purefoods and the coaching staff decided to replaced Harris with a new import Lester Neal, with a twice-to-beat disadvantage during the quarterfinal round, Sunkist forces a rubber match against Formula Shell, but lost 102-104, in their sudden-death playoff on November 24.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School C 1 Manny Victorino style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Jose Rizal College C 4 Bonel Balingit style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Visayas G 5 Gerardo Santiago style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Mapua Tech G 11/6 Renato Agustin (A) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Lyceum G 9 Emmanuel Victoria style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| San Beda College F 10 Alvin Teng style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Arellano University G 14 Rudy Distrito style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| UE F 18 Vergel Meneses style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Jose Rizal College F 6/19 Kenneth Duremdes style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Adamson University G 23 Ricardo Marata style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| South Western University F 24 Eric Reyes style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Ateneo de Manila C 35 Zaldy Realubit style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| San Jose-Recoletos C 43 Alejandro Paguinto style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| F Marcelino Morelos (A) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| UE G Siot Tanquingcen style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| UST F 33 Marques Bragg (C) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Providence College G 22 Tony Harris (G) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of New Orleans G 44 Lester Neal (G) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| F 25 Nelson Asaytono (T) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Manila Position Name/s Head coach:  Derrick Pumaren Assistants: Gabby Velasco / Hector Calma (T) - Traded, (A) - Acquired via trade, (C) - Commissioners Cup import, (G) - Governors Cup import '

_{Team Manager: Elmer Yanga}

References