1994 Swift Mighty Meaties season

The 1994 Swift Mighty Meaties season was the 5th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Off-season transactions

Summary

As one of the top three teams considered as favorites to win the All-Filipino Cup, the Swift Mighty Meaties had an even 5-5 card after the eliminations. When Swift lost to Coney Island, 89-101, at the start of the semifinal round on April 19, ^[1] the players and coaching staff feel bad about the loss and vowed to shaved their heads if they lose again, the Swift players responded as the Mighty Meaties won five in a row to clinch a playoff for the finals berth. On May 6, the San Miguel Beermen ended their winning streak with a 97-87 victory. In their last semifinal outing against Coney Island on May 8, the Swift players and coaching staff showed up in bald-headed and scored a 92-84 victory over the Ice Cream Stars. Swift lost to Coney Island, 74-86, in a playoff game on May 13 for the right to face San Miguel Beermen in the All-Filipino Cup finals. The Mighty Meaties placed fourth, losing to Alaska Milkmen in their best-of-five series for third place.

The defending champions of the Commissioner's Cup bring back Ronnie Thompkins as their import. Thompkins led Swift to four straight wins until he got suspended for two games in an incident involving him and Pepsi Mega's Rey Cuenco. ^{[2] [3]} The Mighty Meaties scored their fifth win against Tondeña 65, playing without Thompkins, ^[4] but lost four straight in which three of those defeats happen when Thompkins return to action. Swift made it to the semifinal round with a 6-5 won-loss card, they lost two of their first three games in the semifinals and Thompkins was injured and replaced following Swift's loss to San Miguel on August 9. Coming in was Stan Rose, a 1993 CBA first round draft pick. Rose played one game, scoring 31 points in leading Swift to a 105-103 win over Shell, he was sent home in favor of their former import Bernard Thompson. Swift was a win away from earning a playoff for the second finals berth but lost a crucial game to Shell and were beaten by Alaska, 98-110 on August 26, as the Milkmen arrange a title clash with Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs.

Coach Yeng Guiao resigned from his coaching position with Swift after the Commissioner's Cup and moved over to the Pepsi Mega camp as both teams swapped coaches. Pepsi Mega coach Derrick Pumaren becomes the new head coach of Swift beginning the Governor's Cup. The Mighty Meaties had enlisted the services of Jay Edwards as their import after Tony Harris opted to play elsewhere. Edwards played six games and put in fine numbers, scoring 69 points and hitting 13 triples in their 135-124 win over Tondeña 65 on October 14. ^[5] Edwards was replaced by Herb Jones, who led Swift to the Governor's Cup finals against Alaska Milk. The Mighty Meaties lost to the Milkmen in the championship series in six games.

Roster

_{Assistant coach: Roehl Nadurata, replaced by Gabby Velasco Team Manager: Elmer Yanga}

References