1998 San Miguel Beermen season

1998 San Miguel Beermen season
Head coach	Ron Jacobs
Owner(s)	San Miguel Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results Record 18–10 (.643) Place 2nd Playoff finish Finals Commissioner's Cup results Record 12–9 (.571) Place 2nd Playoff finish Finals Centennial/Governors Cup results Record 13–12 (.520) Place 4th Playoff finish Semifinals Stats @ PBA-Online.net San Miguel Beermen seasons 1997 1999

The 1998 San Miguel Beermen season was the 24th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

PBA Draft
Noy Castillo (2nd overall pick) ^Draft rights acquired from Pop Cola during the Asaytono-Agustin trade in 1996
William Antonio (Chosen #5 in the 1st round)

Off-season transactions

TRANSACTIONS
William Antonio ^Drafted Rookie
Danny Ildefonso ^Top draft pick acquired from Shell when they traded Noy Castillo
Joey Santamaria ^Signed via free agency
Steven Smith ^Drafted Rookie; originally pick by Gordon's Gin, acquired by San Miguel when they traded Paul Alvarez
Elpidio Villamin ^Signed via free agency

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 Milkmen in the eliminations with 7 wins and 4 losses, ^[2] they won eight games in the semifinals for a league-best 15-6 won-loss record in the All-Filipino Cup, the Beermen played the Alaska Milkmen in the best-of-seven championship. In the battle between two American coaches; Ron Jacobs and Alaska's Tim Cone, the Beermen blew a 3-2 series advantage, they lost Game six 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 Alaska 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 they jump off to a 2-0 series 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 five 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 UST C 5 Ronilo Padilla University of Cebu G 7 Michael Mustre Letran F 8 Allan Caidic UE C 10 Danny Ildefonso National University F 11 Nelson Asaytono University of Manila F 12 Yves Dignadice West Negros College F 14 Joey Santamaria De La Salle G 15 Edward Naron University of Visayas G 17 Olsen Racela Ateneo de Manila F 18 Arturo Dela Cruz San Sebastian F 25 Freddie Abuda University of Cebu F 28 Elpidio Villamin FEU F 34 William Antonio Chaminade University G 42 Steven Smith US International F 21 Jeff Ward (C) Tiffin University G 42 Lamont Strothers (C/G) Christopher Newport University G 20 Larry Robinson (G) Centenary College Position Name/s Head coach:  Ron Jacobs Assistants: Jong Uichico (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

References

1. San Miguel downs Pop
2. Refs' calls get Ron Jacobs' goat