1997 Sta. Lucia Realtors season explained

Pbayear:1997
Team:Sta. Lucia Realtors
Coach:Chot Reyes
Adonis Tierra
1C-Name:All-Filipino Cup
1C-Wins:13
1C-Losses:10
1C-Place:3rd
1C-Playoffs:Semifinals
2C-Name:Commissioner's Cup
2C-Wins:8
2C-Losses:11
2C-Place:4th
2C-Playoffs:Semifinals
3C-Name:Governor's Cup
3C-Wins:10
3C-Losses:9
3C-Place:4th
3C-Playoffs:Semifinals
Owners:Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation
Pol Team:3
Prevseason:1996
Nextseason:1998

The 1997 Sta. Lucia Realtors season was the fifth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerCollege
13Jason WebbDe La Salle
16Gabby CuiAteneo de Manila
18Angelo DavidFEU

Notable dates

July 22: Sta.Lucia advance in the Commissioners Cup semifinals with a 100-92 overtime victory over Purefoods Cowboys. Kenny Redfield, the two-time best import who led Shell to the finals last season and playing with his fourth team with the Realtors, scored his 27th triple-double performance of 34 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. With the victory, Sta.Lucia are tied on top of the standings with three other teams, San Miguel, Shell and Gordon's Gin with six wins and four losses. [1]

September 28: Import Sean Green carried the Realtors with his team-high 35 points as Sta.Lucia scored their third straight victory and a solo lead in the Governors Cup with a 111-90 rout off Pop Cola. [2]

Occurrences

After a four-year coaching stint with the Purefoods ballclub, coach Chot Reyes accepted the offer of Sta.Lucia as their new head coach at the beginning of the season.

During the Governors Cup, after Sta.Lucia lost to Alaska by one point on October 28, [3] coach Chot Reyes resigned a few days later and gave up his position to assistant coach Adonis Tierra, who will handle the Realtors on interim basis. Reports had it that Reyes' temperaments have cause him his job at Sta.Lucia and the players' boycott against their coach led to his departure.

Transactions

Additions

Player Signed Former team
Off-season Mobiline

Recruited imports

TournamentNameNumberPositionUniversity/CollegeDuration
Commissioner's CupKenny Redfield23ForwardMichigan StateJune 15 to August 26
Governors' CupSean Green7Guard-ForwardIona CollegeSeptember 21 to December 5

Notes and References

  1. News: SLR wallops Purefoods, gains share of lead. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Sizzling-hot Realtors continue roll. Manila Standard.
  3. News: Alaska stuns SLR. Manila Standard.