| Pbayear: | 1996 |
| Team: | Formula Shell Zoom Masters |
| 1C-Name: | All Filipino Cup |
| 1C-Wins: | 11 |
| 1C-Losses: | 11 |
| 1C-Place: | 5th |
| 1C-Playoffs: | Semifinals |
| 2C-Name: | Commissioner's Cup |
| 2C-Wins: | 14 |
| 2C-Losses: | 12 |
| 2C-Place: | 2nd |
| 2C-Playoffs: | Runner-up |
| No-3C: | 1 |
| 3C-Name: | Governor's Cup |
| 3C-Wins: | 8 |
| 3C-Losses: | 9 |
| 3C-Place: | 3rd |
| 3C-Playoffs: | Semifinals |
| Owners: | Pilipinas Shell Petroleum |
| Manager: | Jaime Aizon |
| Prevseason: | 1995 |
The 1996 Formula Shell Zoom Masters season was the 12th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Formula Shell were off to a rousing start by beating defending champion Sunkist in their first game, 109-95 on February 20. The Zoom Masters won their first four games in the All-Filipino Cup. [1] They finish second in the eliminations with nine wins and five losses and a game behind leader Alaska Milkmen. The Zoom Masters won their first two games in the semifinals but skidded in their last six outings, losing all their remaining matches and dropped to fifth place.
Import Kenny Redfield moved over to Formula Shell after his former team Purefoods decided not to rehire his services in the Commissioners Cup and opted for former Swift import Ronnie Thompkins instead. The Zoom Masters lost their first two games before picking up their first win against Purefoods, 89-81 on June 23. The Zoom Masters were the fourth team to make it to the next round with the higher quotient over two other teams following a 97-78 win over Sunkist on the last day of the eliminations on July 23. [2] Entering the semifinal round with five victories against five defeats, Shell won five of their eight assignments to earn a playoff for the second finals berth against Ginebra San Miguel, a team which they haven't beaten in four outings in the Conference.
On August 25 in a do-or-die game for the right to meet Alaska Milkmen in the Commissioners Cup finals, the Zoom Masters trailed, 83–86 with 17 seconds left in the ballgame, Shell's mid-season acquisition Richie Ticzon tied the count at 86-all with his own triple after Bal David earlier broke the 83-all standoff by hitting a three-pointer that gave Ginebra a three-point edge. The Ginebras called a timeout with 10.5 seconds left and on the next possession, Ginebra import Henry James almost losses the ball but was able to recovered and attempted a three-pointer which was swatted by Benjie Paras, the ball went into Kenny Redfield's hands as they raced down the court, Redfield converted a desperation triple that went in at the final buzzer, giving Shell a stunning 89-86 win and shocked the pre-dominantly Ginebra crowd. [3] Formula Shell enters the finals for the first time since 1992 and in the championship series against Alaska, the underdog Shell squad continued to defied the odds by winning Games One and Three and taking a two games to one advantage. The championship savvy Alaska Milkmen eventually won in the deciding match of a tough seven-game series as they stave off a late, furious Shell rally to win by six points.
See main article: 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals.
Resident import Bobby Parks led Shell to six wins in 10 games he played in the Governors Cup. Parks was sidelined with a fractured left foot incurred in the Zoom Masters' 70-84 loss to Purefoods on November 10. Shell was importless in their next two games which they lost to Alaska in the last playing date of the eliminations on November 15 and Sunkist in their quarterfinal playoffs. Replacing the injured Parks was former Purefoods import Tharon Mayes. Formula Shell made it to the best-of-five semifinals against Alaska by winning over Sunkist, 104-102, in their knockout game on November 24. Mayes was outplayed by Sean Chambers in the semifinal series and the Zoom Masters were swept in three games by the Grandslam-seeking Alaska Milkmen.
February 27: Shell held the San Miguel Beermen scoreless in the first four minutes of the third quarter and led by as many as 18 points to coast an easy 89-79 victory for their third straight win and the solo lead in the All-Filipino Cup. [4]
July 12: Shell outsteadied Alaska down the stretch to eke out a hard-earned 82-79 victory and snapped the Milkmen's winning roll at six and handed their first loss in the Commissioners Cup. [5]
August 25: Kenny Redfield struck with a three-point shot in the final second as Formula Shell repulsed Ginebra San Miguel, 89-86, to earn the right to challenge Alaska Milk for the Commissioners Cup championship. A key block by Shell center Benjie Paras off Ginebra import Henry James paved the way for Redfield's winning trey.
| Player | Signed | Former team | |
| Alejandro Lim | Off-season | Purefoods | |
| Peter Naron | Off-season | Purefoods | |
| June 1996 | Purefoods |
| Tournament | Name | Number | Position | University/College | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner's Cup | Kenny Redfield | 3 | Forward | Michigan State | June 16 to September 10 |
| Governors' Cup | Bobby Parks | 22 | Forward | Memphis State | October 1 to November 10 |
| Tharon Mayes | 25 | Guard-Forward | Florida State | November 24 to December 8 |