2001 PBA season
| 2001 PBA season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duration | January 28, 2001 – December 16, 2001 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| TV partner(s) | Viva TV (IBC) |
| 2001 PBA Draft | |
| Top draft pick | Willie Miller |
| Picked by | Batang Red Bull Thunder |
| Season MVP | Danny Ildefonso |
| All-Filipino Cup champions | San Miguel Beermen |
| All-Filipino Cup runners-up | Barangay Ginebra Kings |
| Commissioner's Cup champions | Batang Red Bull Thunder |
| Commissioner's Cup runners-up | San Miguel Beermen |
| Governors Cup champions | Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| Governors Cup runners-up | San Miguel Beermen |
The 2001 PBA season was the 27th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Notable occurrences
- During the pre-season, Tanduay made soundwaves in the PBA when they dangled Danny Ildefonso of corporate rival San Miguel Beermen a whopping 16-year, 96 million peso offersheet. The league though, nullified the said deal since it was believed that the offersheet violated the team's salary cap. [1]
- Danny Ildefonso of San Miguel became the third player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for two straight seasons, Ildefonso also sets a record by sweeping the season's Best Player of the Conference award, his unprecedented feat started in 2000 when he emerged as the award winner in the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups, his BPC wins surpassed the three apiece won by Vergel Meneses and Alvin Patrimonio.
- Purefoods' Alvin Patrimonio became the first player to suit up for 500 straight games
- Alaska import Sean Chambers hung up his number 20 jersey after 13 years in a highly emotional retirement ceremony.
- The corporate sale of Purefoods, including its PBA franchise, to San Miguel Corporation at the end of the year was eventually approved by the Board of Governors, the Hotdogs became the third team under the San Miguel corporate umbrella. [2]
- Paul Asi Taulava and Eric Menk, two fil-foreign players, returned to their respective ballclubs, Taulava reunited with the Phone Pals around mid-year while Menk suited up for Tanduay a little later.
- In a stunning move in late December, Tanduay shipped Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros, Bonel Balingit and Chris Cantonjos to other teams as a prelude to Tanduay's subsequent sale of its franchise to FedEx, the delivery firm, for P 75 million. [3]
Opening ceremonies
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
| Team | Muse |
|---|---|
| Alaska Aces | Vanessa Garcia |
| Batang Red Bull Thunder | Sandra Seifert and Josephine Bonizado |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | Geneva Cruz |
| Pop Cola Panthers | Ruffa Mae Quinto |
| Mobiline Phone Pals | Patricia Javier |
| Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | Antoinette Taus |
| San Miguel Beermen | Phoemela Baranda |
| Shell Turbo Chargers | Pia Guanio |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | Marielle Lopez and Jeremie Antiporda |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | Janna Victoria |
Champions
- All-Filipino Cup: San Miguel Beermen
- Commissioner's Cup: Batang Red Bull Thunder
- Governor's Cup: Sta. Lucia Realtors
- Team with best win-loss percentage: San Miguel Beermen (43-27, .614)
- Best Team of the Year: San Miguel Beermen (7th)
Individual awards
- Most Valuable Player: Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
- Rookie of the Year: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)
- Sportsmanship Award: Rey Evangelista (Purefoods)
- Most Improved Player: Noy Castillo (Purefoods)
- Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jackson (Shell)
- Mythical Five
- Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
- Danny Seigle (San Miguel)
- Olsen Racela (San Miguel)
- Dennis Espino (Sta. Lucia)
- Ali Peek (Alaska)
- Mythical Second Team
- Noy Castillo (Purefoods)
- Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska)
- Nic Belasco (San Miguel)
- Rudy Hatfield (Pop Cola)
- Davonn Harp (Red Bull)
- All Defensive Team
- Chris Jackson (Shell)
- Dennis Espino (Sta. Lucia)
- Marlou Aquino (Sta. Lucia)
- Rey Evangelista (Purefoods)
- Patrick Fran (Mobiline/Talk 'N Text)
Awards given by the PBA Press Corps
- Coach of the Year: Yeng Guiao (Red Bull)
- Mr. Quality Minutes: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)
- Executive of the Year: Sonny Barios (PBA executive director)
- Referee of the Year: Ernie de Leon
Cumulative standings
| Champion | |
| Runner-up | |
| Semifinalist | |
| Quarterfinalist | |
| Eliminations |
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | Best finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel Beermen | 70 | 43 | 27 | .614 | Champion |
| Batang Red Bull Thunder | 51 | 28 | 23 | .549 | Champion |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | 49 | 25 | 24 | .510 | Champion |
| Alaska Aces | 46 | 23 | 23 | .500 | Semifinalist |
| Shell Turbo Chargers | 51 | 25 | 26 | .490 | Semifinalist |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs | 45 | 22 | 23 | .489 | Semifinalist |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 52 | 25 | 27 | .480 | Runner-up |
| Pop Cola Panthers | 51 | 24 | 27 | .470 | Semifinalist |
| Mobiline / Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | 41 | 18 | 23 | .433 | Quarterfinalist |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | 38 | 14 | 24 | .368 | Quarterfinalist |
References
- ^ "Ildefonso deals floors PBA". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "Pop transfer raises SMB teams to four". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ "FedEx not paying fines of Tanduay". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
