2002 Red Bull Thunder season explained

Pbayear:2002
Team:Red Bull Thunder
Coach:Yeng Guiao
1C-Name:Governor's Cup
1C-Wins:6
1C-Losses:6
1C-Place:6th seed
1C-Playoffs:QF (lost to Purefoods)
2C-Name:Commissioner's Cup
2C-Wins:15
2C-Losses:7
2C-Place:1st seed
2C-Playoffs:Champions
(def. Talk 'N Text 4-3)
3C-Name:All-Filipino Cup
3C-Wins:9
3C-Losses:4
3C-Place:1st seed
3C-Playoffs:Semis (lost to Alaska)
Owners:Tony Chua
Manager:Tony Chua
Pol Team:3
Prevseason:2001
Nextseason:2003

The 2002 Red Bull Thunder season was the third season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

See main article: 2002 PBA draft.

Occurrences

Fil-foreigners Davonn Harp and Mick Pennissi were selected as aspirants for the National team in the coming Busan Asian Games in South Korea. Both players were on loan to the Philippine-Hapee toothpaste training squad during the season's first offing.

Championship

Last year's Commissioner's Cup Best Import Tony Lang came back and teamed up with fellow returnee Julius Nwosu to help Batang Red Bull retain the title they won last season. The Thunder reached the finals against Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. After four games and the series tied at two games apiece, Lang was accused of game-fixing and was replaced by NBA veteran Sean Lampley.

Batang Red Bull won their second PBA title in three years by defeating the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in seven games. The Thunder overcame a 2-3 series deficit by taking the last two games to successfully defend the Commissioner's Cup crown.

See main article: 2002 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals.

Transactions

Players Added
Via Draft

Via Free Agency

Players Lost
Via Free Agency

Via Trade

Eliminations (Won games)

DateOpponentScoreVenue (Location)
February 12 Shell 94-81 Philsports Arena [1]
February 17 FedEx 107-99 Araneta Coliseum
February 24 RP-Selecta 80-69 Philsports Arena
March 9 RP-Hapee 90-82 Cuneta Astrodome
March 17 Sta.Lucia 91-85 Araneta Coliseum
April 20 Purefoods 93-77 Philsports Arena
June 16 Brgy.Ginebra 81-69 Araneta Coliseum
June 23 Alaska 85-77 Araneta Coliseum [2]
June 30 Sta.Lucia 66-62 Araneta Coliseum
July 11 San Miguel 78-73 Cuneta Astrodome
July 14 Coca Cola 72-60 Ynares Center
July 26 RP-Selecta 75-51 Ynares Center
July 28 Talk 'N Text 92-80 Araneta Coliseum
October 23 Coca Cola 76-70 Philsports Arena
October 27 Alaska 59-57 Araneta Coliseum
November 6 Sta.Lucia 66-58 Cuneta Astrodome
November 10 San Miguel 75-74 OT Araneta Coliseum [3]
November 20 Purefoods 96-66 Cuneta Astrodome
November 23 Shell 82-65 Cuneta Astrodome
November 29 Brgy.Ginebra 84-67 Cuneta Astrodome
December 1 FedEx 80-77 Araneta Coliseum



Notes and References

  1. News: Hot Bunn powers Red Bull past Shell. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. News: Red Bull upends Alaska. Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. News: Red Bull frustrates SMB. Philippine Daily Inquirer.