1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season
| 1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Derrick Pumaren |
| Owner(s) | RFM Corporation |
| All Filipino Cup results | |
| Record | 4–10 (28.6%) |
| Place | 7th |
| Playoff finish | N/A |
| Commissioner's Cup results | |
| Record | 5–6 (45.5%) |
| Place | 6th |
| Playoff finish | N/A |
| Governor's Cup results | |
| Record | 6–7 (46.2%) |
| Place | 5th |
| Playoff finish | Quarterfinals |
| Sunkist Orange Bottlers seasons | |
The 1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season was the 7th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Transactions
| TRANSACTIONS |
|---|
| Gerardo Santiago Rookie free agent signed |
| Siot Tanquingcen Rookie free agent signed |
| Alvin Teng Acquired from Pepsi during the off-season when they traded Elpidio Villamin |
| Nelson Asaytono Traded to San Miguel Beermen along with a future draft pick on April 1st for Renato Agustin and rookie Mar Morelos |
| Rudy Distrito Return from a one-year suspension last season, but became unrestricted free agent when Asaytono was traded |
| Manny Victorino Signed to a short-term contract late in the season to fill the spot of the injured Bonel Balingit |
Summary
After a near-grandslam finish last year, the Sunkist Orange Bottlers failed to advance in the semifinal round in all three conferences of the 1996 season. In the All-Filipino Cup, the Bottlers split their first six outings and then dropped six straight games and were ousted from the semifinals. Forward Nelson Asaytono was traded to San Miguel for 1992 MVP Ato Agustin with three games left in their elimination round schedule. [1]
Sunkist had former Alaska import Marques Bragg as their import in the Commissioner's Cup. The Orange Bottlers were tied with Purefoods and Formula Shell for the fourth and fifth slot in the semifinals, Shell makes it to the next round via higher quotient, leaving Purefoods and Sunkist to dispute the last seat. Sunkist lost to Purefoods, 76-89, in their playoff game on July 30.
Tony Harris came back as their import in the Governor's Cup, but the Hurricane could only play three games after Sunkist lost two straight matches to Shell and Purefoods. The coaching staff decided to replaced Harris with a new import Lester Neal. Sunkist finish with five wins and six losses in the eliminations and were in a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals. The Orange Bottlers forces a rubber match against Shell but lost in their sudden-death playoff, 102-104 on November 24.
Notable dates
March 12: Vergel Meneses unloaded 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and led a breakaway by Sunkist in the last eight minutes as the defending All-Filipino Cup champions pulled off a 93-84 victory over San Miguel Beermen and evened up their won-loss record to three wins and three losses. [2]
June 21: Marques Bragg banged in a three-point play off Ronnie Thompkins with 14.5 seconds left to snap the final tie and Sunkist recovered from an early 16-point deficit to scuttle Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, 97-93. It was the Orange Bottlers first win in three games in the Commissioners Cup. [3]
September 29: Alvin Teng put back a miss by Tony Harris with 4.7 seconds left to lift Sunkist to a thrilling 93-91 victory over defending champion Alaska Milkmen at the start of the Governors Cup. [4]
Roster
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Team Manager: Elmer Yanga
References
- ^ "Asaytono now a Beerman". Manila Standard.
- ^ "Meneses stars as Sunkist blasts San Miguel". Manila Standard.
- ^ "Bragg stars as Sunkist squeakes past Purefoods". Manila Standard.
- ^ "Sunkist, SMB take Governor's Cup openers". Manila Standard.
