1999 Formula Shell Zoom Masters season

The 1999 Formula Shell Super Unleaded season was the 15th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team became known as Shell Velocity beginning the Governor's Cup.

Off-season transactions

Summary

Formula Shell won their first two games of the season but lost their next five games to dropped to 2-win, 5-loss, the Zoom Masters got back into contention by winning five in a row, starting with their 64-60 victory over Sta.Lucia on March 19, ^[1] followed by a 68-58 win over San Miguel on March 24, ^[2] the Zoom Masters won 7 of their last 9 games to finish with a 9-7 won-loss slate and tied at second with two other teams; Alaska and Tanduay, seeded at number 4 and needed only one win to advance into the All-Filipino Cup semifinals, Shell easily makes it by defeating San Miguel, 79-73 in their quarterfinal match on May 9, the Zoom Masters scored a 3-0 sweep off Barangay Ginebra in their semifinal series to enter the finals for the second straight conference against Tanduay Rhum Masters, a slight underdog in the championship series, the Shell Zoom Masters emerged victorious with a 4-2 series win over Tanduay Rhum to repeat as back-to-back champions, becoming the 10th team to win the prestigious All-Filipino tournament.

Import John Best is playing on his fifth conference in the PBA, Shell scored their first win against Sta.Lucia, 94-90 on July 2, ^[3] after losing their opening game to Alaska. The Zoom Masters were seeded second after the eliminations in the Commissioner's Cup, advances all the way to the finals for the third consecutive conference by winning their best-of-five semifinal series against Sta.Lucia, 3 games to 2, the Zoom Masters played opposite the San Miguel Beermen in the championship, Shell's bid to win a third straight crown were halted as the Beermen prevailed in six games.

Bobby Parks and another former import Lester Neal each played in Shell's games during the elimination round of the Governor's Cup, with one game left in the eliminations, Shell Velocity brought in John Morton, a former Cleveland Cavalier, who scored 50 points in his debut, an 85-91 Shell' loss to Alaska on November 10. The Turbo Chargers were fifth seeded in the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat disadvantage against Alaska Milkmen, their bid for a fourth straight finals appearance came to an end after Alaska repeated with a 77-65 win, four nights later on November 14.

Awards

Benjie Paras won his second Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy after 10 years since winning both the MVP plum and Rookie of the year honors.

Occurrences

In Game 2 of the Shell-Ginebra semifinals series during the All-Filipino Cup, a brawl ensued involving Shell's Jay Mendoza and Ginebra's Wilmer Ong, the free-for-all meted a total fines of P 235,000 and suspension of players involved, Jay Mendoza was fined P 40,000 and suspended for three games.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School G 1 Dennis Harrison University of Hawaii F 3 Chris Jackson San Bernardino Valley College G 4 Noy Castillo Citadel College G 6 Arnold Rodriguez PUP F 8 Alejandro Lim University of Visayas F 9 Jay Mendoza Mapua Tech C 11 Erwin Luna Adamson University G 12 Porferio Marzan University of Baguio C 14 Benjie Paras University of the Philippines F 19 Joel Dualan University of Manila G 30 Gerald Esplana Far Eastern University G 31 Rommel Santos College of Staten Island F 33 Victor Pablo Far Eastern University F 25 John Best (C) Tennessee Technological University F 24 Lester Neal (G) Ventura College F 22 Bobby Parks (G) Memphis State University F 23 John Morton (G) Seton Hall University Position Name/s Head coach:  Perry Ronquillo Assistants: Joey Guanio (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

^{Team Manager: Roberto Villarosa}

References