1987 PBA Reinforced Conference finals explained

Year:1987
Conference:Reinforced Conference
Champion:San Miguel Beermen
Champion Games:4
Runnerup Games:1
Date:December 3–13, 1987
Television:Vintage Sports (PTV)
Referees 1:G. Ledezma, B. dela Cruz, A. Bartolome
Referees 2:G. Ledesma, A. dela Cruz, R. Gamad
Referees 3:G. Ledesma, M. Felipe, R. Gamad
Referees 5:G. Ledesma, A. dela Cruz, R. Gamad
Next Year:1988

The 1987 PBA Reinforced Conference finals was the best-of-7 series basketball championship of the 1987 PBA Reinforced Conference, and the conclusion of the conference playoffs. The San Miguel Beermen and Hills Bros. Coffee Kings played for the 38th championship contested by the league.[1]

San Miguel Beermen wins their third PBA title and its first championship in five years, defeating Hills Bros. Coffee Kings in their finals series, 4 games to 1.

Qualification

San MiguelHills Bros.
Finished 6–4 (.600), tied for 2nd EliminationsFinished 6–4 (.600), tied for 2nd
Finished 13–5 (.722), 1st SemifinalsFinished 10–8 (.556), tied for 2nd
Tiebreaker Won against Ginebra, 89–87

Series scoring summary

Teamwidth=8%Game 1width=8%Game 2width=8%Game 3width=8%Game 4width=8%Game 5width=8%Wins
San Miguel97 123 114 113 96 4
Hills Bros.110 100 92 105 86 1
VenueULTRAULTRAULTRAULTRAULTRA

Games summary

Game 1

The Coffee Kings squeeze out the best from import Jose Slaughter and Yoyoy Villamin, who scored 34 points, the highest for a local in this conference, to roll back San Miguel Beermen. Slaughter refused to succumb to the pressure when the Beermen threatened at 95–98 in the closing two minutes. Four straight points from Slaughter and charities by Frankie Lim and Tim Coloso sealed the win, 105–95, with 28 seconds to go.[2]

Game 2

Down 26–27, the Beermen immediately blazed away from all angles to open up a 50–36 lead before taking the first 24 minutes of play at 59–42. Bobby Parks and Abet Guidaben combined to stretch the lead to 22 points in the third quarter at 77–55.[3]

Game 3

The Beermen limited the Coffee Kings to only 11 points in the second quarter en route to a 58–39 halftime lead. Hills Bros badly missed the services of Marte Saldana on a twisted left knee ligament, Ricky Relosa on a left hand bone fracture and Bogs Adornado. Coffee Kings coach Arturo Valenzona had to field in seldom used Teddy Alfarero, Dennis Abbatuan and Adonis Tierra. There was no stopping the Beermen as they led by as many as 31 points, 87–56.[4]

Game 4

Ricky Relosa suited up for Game four but the Coffee Kings efforts were not enough in stopping the Beermen from taking a 3–1 series lead. Hills Bros was in the thick of the fight until the final minute of the ballgame.

Game 5

Hector Calma, Bobby Parks and Abet Guidaben combined to open up a 30–18 lead before the Beermen took the half at 50–44. The Coffee Kings, undaunted by injuries to their key men, refused to give up easily and levelled the count five times, the last at 75-all, but the Beermen unloaded a crippling 17–2 blast to break the backs of the Coffee Kings and led, 92–77, with 2:23 to go. Bobby Parks put on the final icing of their title triumph with a buzzer-beating jumper.[5]

Broadcast notes

Game Analyst
Game 1 Andy Jao
Game 2 Quinito Henson
Game 3 Joaqui Trillo
Game 4
Game 5

Notes and References

  1. News: San Miguel, Hills start playoffs today. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Hills captures opener. Manila Standard.
  3. News: SMB pulls even with 123–100 win. Manila Standard.
  4. News: SMB swamps Hills. Manila Standard.
  5. News: SMB ends title drought. Manila Standard.