1998 San Miguel Beermen season

The 1998 San Miguel Beermen season on their 24th season in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

Off-season transactions

Summary

The San Miguel Beermen rout Pop Cola, 86-67, in the opening game of the season on February 1, ^[1] the Beermen placed second behind Alaska Milk in the eliminations at 7 wins and 4 loss, ^[2] won eight games in the semifinals for the league-best 15-6 won-loss record in the All-Filipino Cup, played the Alaska Milkmen in the best-of-seven finals. In the battle between two American coaches, the Beermen blew a 3-2 series advantage, lost Game 6 by a big margin and in the deciding seventh game on May 8, the San Miguel Beermen folded up to the pressure as the game reaches its climax, losing by nine points to the Milkmen, 63-72, before a jampacked crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the Commissioner's Cup, the Beermen bring back last year's best import Jeff Ward, who was good for only six games when coach Ron Jacobs gambled on a smaller import in the returning Lamont Strothers, the Beermen scored a 3-0 sweep over Pop Cola in the best-of-five semifinal series and went on to play the Alaska Milkmen in a championship rematch, the Milkmen paraded a taller import Devin Davis, and jump off to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven finals, the Beermen were able to tie the series at two games apiece by winning Games 3 and 4, but Alaska came back with a victory in Game 5 and finish off the Beermen in six games.

San Miguel had the pair of Lamont Strothers and Larry Robinson, their import last year who won best import honors, for the Centennial Cup and Governor's Cup, the Beermen advances in the semifinal round of the Governor's Cup, but their bid for a third straight finals appearance in the season was halted by Formula Shell, which beat the Beermen, 87-83, in their do-or-die playoff game on November 22.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School G 4 Siot Tanquincen style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| UST C 5 Ronilo Padilla style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Visayas G 7 Michael Mustre style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Letran F 8 Allan Caidic style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| UE C 10 Danny Ildefonso style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| National University F 11 Nelson Asaytono style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Manila F 12 Yves Dignadice style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Saint La Salle F 14 Joey Santamaria style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| De La Salle G 15 Edward Naron style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Visayas G 17 Olsen Racela style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Ateneo de Manila F 18 Arturo Dela Cruz style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| San Sebastian F 25 Freddie Abuda style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| University of Visayas F 28 Elpidio Villamin style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| FEU F 34 William Antonio style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Chaminade University G 42 Steven Smith style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| US International F 21 Jeff Ward (C) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Tiffin University G 42 Lamont Strothers (C/G) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Christopher Newport University G 20 Larry Robinson (G) style="font-size: 95%; text-align: left; width=25%""| Centenary College Position Name/s Head coach:  Ron Jacobs Assistants: Jong Uichico (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

References