1998 Mobiline Phone Pals season explained

Pbayear:1998
Team:Mobiline Phone Pals
Coach:Tommy Manotoc
Eric Altamirano
1C-Name:All-Filipino Cup
1C-Wins:4
1C-Losses:7
1C-Place:7th
1C-Playoffs:Eliminated
2C-Name:Commissioner's Cup
2C-Wins:5
2C-Losses:7
2C-Place:6th
2C-Playoffs:Quarterfinals (lost to San Miguel in one game)
3C-Name:Governors' Cup
3C-Wins:16
3C-Losses:13
3C-Place:2nd
3C-Playoffs:Runner-up (lost to Formula Shell 3-4)
Owners:Pilipino Telephone Corporation
Manager:Debbie Tan
Pol Team:3
Prevseason:1997
Nextseason:1999

The 1998 Mobiline Phone Pals season was the ninth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege
211Braulio LimUE
3Tyrone BautistaLa Salle

Occurrences

Mobiline coach Tommy Manotoc has hired three-time MVP William Adornado as one of his assistant coaches at the start of the season.

Beginning the Commissioner's Cup on May 22, former Purefoods coach Eric Altamirano signed a four-year contract to coach the Mobiline Phone Pals. Altamirano's contract with Purefoods expired last March 31.

Notable dates

February 8: Andy Seigle nailed a baseline jumper in the final 25 seconds and made a crucial steal afterwards as Mobiline redeemed itself from their first game blowout loss to Gordon's Gin by nipping defending champion Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 67-64.[1]

March 8: Al Solis shot seven triples, one short of his own personal record to finish with a game-high 27 points as Mobiline keeps its hopes alive for a semifinals berth in the All-Filipino Cup with an 89-77 win over San Miguel Beermen and give the Phone Pals its fourth win in 10 games. Prior to the game, the Phone Pals have lost their last four assignments.[2]

May 29: After losing their first two games in the Commissioners Cup with Alex Fraser as their import, Fraser was replaced by their original choice Terquin Mott, who debut with 50 points in giving the Phone Pals their first win in a 94-90 victory over Shell.

Centennial Cup title

Mobiline finally captured a PBA title in a "bonus" tournament called Centennial Cup, the Phone Pals defeated Formula Shell, 67-66, in the one-game finale.

See main article: 1998 PBA Centennial Cup.

Runner-up finish

The perfect combination of imports Silas Mills and Artemus McClary led Mobiline to the Governor's Cup finals in a rematch with Formula Shell. The Phone Pals played without national team members Jeffrey Cariaso and Andy Seigle for the whole conference, they lost in the championship series that went into a full limit of seven games.

Awards

Transactions

Trades

Off-seasonTo Sta. Lucia Realtors
Richard del Rosario
To Mobiline Phone Pals
Gabby Cui
July 1998
To Sta. Lucia Realtors
Lowell Briones
To Mobiline Phone Pals
Jose Francisco

Addition

Player Signed Former team
Merwin CasteloOff-seasonAlaska Milkmen

Subtractions

Player Signed New team
Franz PumarenOff-seasonRetired
Ato AgustinOff-seasonPampanga Dragons (MBA)
Braulio Lim May 1998 Alaska Milkmen

Recruited imports

TournamentNameNumberPositionUniversity/CollegeDuration
Commissioner's Cup20Center-ForwardUniversity of MiamiMay 23-26
Terquin Mott32Center-ForwardCoppin StateMay 29 to July 17
Governors' CupSilas Mills1ForwardUtah StateAugust 30 to December 9
Artemus McClary25Guard-ForwardJacksonvilleAugust 30 to December 9

Notes and References

  1. News: Seigle delivers winning basket as Mobiline thwarts Purefoods. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Mobiline's Solis rises to the occasion. Manila Standard.