1987 Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters season explained

Pbayear:1987
Team:Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters
Coach:Edgardo Ocampo
Joe Lipa
1C-Name:Open Conference
1C-Wins:4
1C-Losses:12
1C-Place:6th
1C-Playoffs:Quarterfinals
2C-Name:All-Filipino Conference
2C-Wins:5
2C-Losses:11
2C-Place:5th
2C-Playoffs:Semifinals
3C-Name:Reinforced Conference
3C-Wins:9
3C-Losses:13
3C-Place:4th
3C-Playoffs:Semifinals
Owners:Pilipinas Shell, Inc.
Pol Team:2
Prevseason:1986
Nextseason:1988

The 1987 Shell Azocord Super Bugbusters season was the third season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Known as Formula Shell Spark Aiders in the Reinforced and All-Filipino Conference.

Transactions

Players AddedSignedFormer team
Leopoldo Herrera Off-seasonGreat Taste
Willie Pearson

Trades

Off-seasonTo Great Taste----Philip Cezar, Bernie FabiosaTo Shell----Manny Victorino, Jaime Manansala
Off-seasonTo Hills Bros----Bogs Adornado[1] To Shell----Rey Cuenco, Al Solis

Occurrences

Head coach Edgardo Ocampo was replaced by national team coach Joe Lipa starting the Third Conference after two dismal conferences by the team.

Import Dexter Shouse suddenly left after leading Shell to six wins and two losses in the Third Conference, taking his place is another former Shell import Dwight Anderson.

Notable dates

April 26: Formula Shell finally found a redeemer in import Calvin Thompson and struck a first-ever triumph in the Open Conference at the expense of Ginebra San Miguel, 107-104. The debuting Thompson dumped in 19 of his 44 points in the final quarter. The Spark Aiders were winless in six starts where imports Dwayne Randall and Michael Clarke played three games each and failed to lead the team to a victory.[2]

October 4: With new coach Joe Lipa, Shell Azocord blew out defending champion Tanduay Rhum, 121-78, at the start of the Reinforced Conference. The Super Bugbusters wrapped up the contest as early in the third period and had their largest lead of 45 points four times.[3]

October 11: Shell Azocord remains unbeaten with their third straight victory, a 109-101 win over Ginebra San Miguel.[4]

October 17: The Super Bugbusters keeps its clean slate with five wins and sweeps the first round of eliminations by turning back San Miguel Beermen, 112-104, in an out-of-town game at the San Agustin gym in Iloilo City.[5]

November 5: Dwight Anderson, returning as Shell's import after Dexter Shouse left, powered the Super Bugbusters to a 114-110 win over San Miguel Beermen and put Shell on top of the standings after the eliminations with a 7-3 won-loss slate.[6]

November 12: On the eve of coach Joe Lipa's departure in Thailand to join the Philippine men's national team in defending the Cage Crown in the Southeast Asian Games, Shell nips Hills Bros, 108-106, and improved their semifinal slate to eight wins and five losses. Assistant coach Freddie Gonzales takes over for a while at the Shell bench.[7]

Won-loss records vs Opponents

Team Win Loss 1st (Open) 2nd (All-Filipino) 3rd (Reinforced)
Ginebra 3 11 1-2 1-2 1-7
Great Taste 3 6 0-2 0-3 3-1
Hills Bros 3 8 0-3 1-3 2-2
Magnolia / San Miguel 4 6 0-2 2-2 2-2
Tanduay 3 4 1-2 1-1 1-1
RP Team 2 1 2-1 N/A N/A
Total 18 36 4-12 5-11 9-13

Roster

Imports

NameConferenceNo.Pos.Ht.College
Open Conference30 Forward6"6'Nevada-Reno
30Forward6"5'
35Forward-Center6"5'University of Kansas
Dexter ShouseReinforced Conference21Guard-Forward6"3'University of South Alabama
Dwight Anderson0Guard-Forward6"3'USC

Notes and References

  1. News: Shell gives up Bogs for No.2 rookie Solis. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Shell ends skid, dumps Ginebra. Manila Standard.
  3. News: Riproaring starts by San Miguel, Shell. Manila Standard.
  4. News: Shell halts Bates, Wallops Ginebra. Manila Standard.
  5. News: Shell wallops San Miguel, keeps clean slate. Manila Standard.
  6. News: Jazz-up Shell halts SMB. Manila Standard.
  7. News: Shell scuttles Hills Bros. Manila Standard.