1999 Mobiline Phone Pals season explained

Pbayear:1999
Team:Mobiline Phone Pals
Coach:Eric Altamirano
1C-Name:All-Filipino
1C-Wins:11
1C-Losses:7
1C-Place:1st seed
1C-Playoffs:Quarterfinals (lost to Ginebra)
2C-Name:Commissioner's Cup
2C-Wins:3
2C-Losses:6
2C-Place:8th seed
2C-Playoffs:Quarterfinals (lost to Alaska)
3C-Name:Governors' Cup
3C-Wins:4
3C-Losses:6
3C-Place:7th seed
3C-Playoffs:Quarterfinals (lost to Tanduay)
Owners:Pilipino Telephone Corporation
Manager:Nick Dela Paz
Debbie Tan (assistant)
Pol Team:3
Prevseason:1998
Nextseason:2000

The 1999 Mobiline Phone Pals season was the 10th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege
14Bryan GaholUP
211Renato AlforqueUV

Direct hire

Summary

Rookie Fil-Tongan 6-10 Paul Asi Taulava debut with a near triple-double of 32 points, 20 rebounds and 8 assists as Mobiline rout comebacking Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters, 90-64, in the opening of the league's 25th season on February 7. The Phone Pals had their best start in franchise history by winning their first seven games. [1] Mobiline finish on top of the standings in the All-Filipino Cup with an 11-5 won-loss slate and seeded number one with a twice-to-beat advantage against Barangay Ginebra Kings in the quarterfinal round. The Phone Pals were upset and lost two straight in which the last one was a heartbreaking 81-82 defeat on Bal David' winning shot at the buzzer.

Last season's Governors Cup best import Silas Mills return to the Phone Pals in the Commissioner's Cup. Mobiline lost their first two games before picking up their win against Shell, 78-74 in Sta.Cruz, Laguna on July 7. [2] The Phone Pals were three wins and five losses and seeded 8th and last in the quarterfinal round, they lost to top-seeded Alaska Milkmen.

Reinforced by former San Miguel import Larry Robinson in the Governors Cup, the Phone Pals had a similar three wins in eight elimination round assignments, they forced a sudden-death playoff with 2nd seeded Tanduay Rhum Masters before losing, 75-84 on November 17.

Occurrences

In Mobiline's first game on July 11 following the Andy Seigle-Jerry Codinera trade, rookie Asi Taulava played listless in scoring only six points and was fined for his below-par showing in a 74-103 loss to Sta.Lucia. [3]

Roster

Team Manager: Nick de la Paz

Transactions

Trades

Off-seasonTo Barangay Ginebra----Merwin CasteloTo Mobiline----Anastacio Mendoza Drafted by Ginebra, 2nd overall pick
July 1999 [4] To Purefoods----Andy SeigleTo Mobiline----Jerry CodiƱera

Recruited imports

TournamentNameNumberPositionUniversity/College
Commissioner's CupSilas Mills1ForwardUtah State
Governors' CupLarry Robinson20Guard-ForwardCentenary

Notes and References

  1. News: Mobiline gets big scare. Manila Standard.
  2. News: Mobiline finally ekes out win by edging Shell. Manila Standard.
  3. News: Sta.Lucia routs Mobiline. Manila Standard.
  4. News: CodiƱera to Mobiline, Andy Seigle to Purefoods. Manila Standard.