1999 Mobiline Phone Pals season

1999   Mobiline Phone Pals season
Head coach	Eric Altamirano
Owner(s)	Pilipino Telephone Corporation
All-Filipino results
Record	11–7 (61.1%)
Place	1st seed
Playoff finish	Quarterfinals (lost to Ginebra)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	3–6 (33.3%)
Place	8th seed
Playoff finish	Quarterfinals (lost to Alaska)
Governors' Cup results
Record	4–6 (40%)
Place	7th seed
Playoff finish	Quarterfinals (lost to Tanduay)
Mobiline Phone Pals seasons
←  1998 2000  →

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

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College
1	4	Bryan Gahol	Philippines	UP
2	11	Renato Alforque	Philippines	UV

Direct hire

Player	Nationality	College
Asi Taulava	Tonga	BYU Hawaii

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

Mobiline Phone Pals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. G 3 Espinosa, Tonyboy 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) De La Salle G 8 Solis, Al 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Visayas G/F 9 Francisco, Jose 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Far Eastern G 11 Mendoza, Anastacio 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Far Eastern G 12 Capacio, Glenn 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern F 14 Reyes, Enrique 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Ateneo G 17 Fran, Patrick 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) UST F 21 Gahol, Bryan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Sonoma State F 22 Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Philippines F 29 Angeles, Josel 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Lyceum F/C 44 Codinera, Jerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) UE C 55 Taulava, Asi 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) BYU–Hawaii	Head coach Eric Altamirano Assistant coach(es) Frankie Lim Ryan Gregorio Legend (C) Team captain Injured

^{Team Manager: Nick de la Paz}

Transactions

Trades

Off-season	To Barangay Ginebra Merwin Castelo	To Mobiline Anastacio Mendoza Drafted by Ginebra, 2nd overall pick
July 1999 [4]	To Purefoods Andy Seigle	To Mobiline Jerry Codiñera

Recruited imports

Tournament	Name	Number	Position	University/College
Commissioner's Cup	Silas Mills	1	Forward	Utah State
Governors' Cup	Larry Robinson	20	Guard-Forward	Centenary

References

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