1999 PBA season

1999 PBA season
Duration	February 7 – December 12, 1999
Number of teams	9
TV partner(s)	VTV (IBC)
1999 PBA Draft
Top draft pick	Sonny Alvarado
Picked by	Tanduay Rhum Masters
Season MVP	Benjie Paras (Shell Velocity)
All-Filipino Cup champions	Formula Shell Zoom Masters
All-Filipino Cup runners-up	Tanduay Rhum Masters
Commissioner's Cup champions	San Miguel Beermen
Commissioner's Cup runners-up	Formula Shell Zoom Masters
Governors Cup champions	San Miguel Beermen
Governors Cup runners-up	Alaska Milkmen
Seasons
← 1998 2000 →

The 1999 PBA season was the 25th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Season highlights

• A new era began with the entry of Fil-foreign cagers such as Asi Taulava, Danny Seigle and Eric Menk.
• During the opening ceremonies, the PBA honored basketball greats in their respective era as the all-time first five, nominated in each decade from 1950s–1990s were Caloy Loyzaga, Narciso Bernardo, Robert Jaworski, Hector Calma and Alvin Patrimonio, surprisingly absent from the list was Ramon Fernandez, who was then the MBA Commissioner.
• The opening ceremonies for the said season went head-to-head against the opening ceremonies of rival league, MBA, involving the TV network war. The PBA sought the alliance of GMA Network who facilitated their opening ceremonies while MBA used ABS-CBN's roster of stars for its opening ceremonies.
• The PBA transferred from the Cuneta Astrodome to the PhilSports Arena as their main playing venue.
• The league changes their playdates from Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays to Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Friday games were still held exclusively at the Araneta Coliseum while the Sunday games are played at the PhilSports Arena.
• The Tanduay Rhum Masters returned to the PBA after a 12-year absence.
• During the off-season, the league allowed each team to have a direct-hire Filipino-Foreigner recruit as their answer to the increasing popularity of rival basketball league, the Metropolitan Basketball Association. ^[1]
• Formula Shell became the 10th team to win the All-Filipino crown, and won their first back-to-back championships, the underdog Shell team led by Benjie Paras, Victor Pablo and Gerry Esplana, defied the odds by beating the stronger Tanduay ballclub, composed of powerhouse rookies Sonny Alvarado, Mark Telan, Chris Cantonjos and Eric Menk.
• The San Miguel Beermen, under new coach Jong Uichico, ended a five-year title-drought and won the final two conferences of the season to tie the legendary Crispa Redmanizers for the most championships with 13.

Opening ceremonies

The muses for the participating teams are as follows:

Team	Muse
Alaska Milkmen
Barangay Ginebra Kings	Ruffa Gutierrez
Formula Shell Zoom Masters	Francine Prieto
Pop Cola 800s	Cris Villonco
Mobiline Phone Pals
Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs
San Miguel Beermen	Aileen Damiles
Sta. Lucia Realtors
Tanduay Rhum Masters	Ara Mina

1999 PBA All-Filipino Cup

Main article: 1999 PBA All-Filipino Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Mobiline Phone Pals	11	5	.688	—	Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
2	Alaska Milkmen	9	7	.563 [a]	2
3	Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters	9	7	.563 [a]	2
4	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	9	7	.563 [a]	2
5	San Miguel Beermen	8	8	.500	3	Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6	Pop Cola 800s	7	9	.438 [b]	4
7	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	7	9	.438 [b]	4
8	Barangay Ginebra Kings	6	10	.375 [c]	5
9	Sta. Lucia Realtors	6	10	.375 [c]	5

Source: PBA.ph
Notes:

1. Head-to-head differential: Alaska +11, Tanduay +8, Shell −19
2. Head-to-head record: Pop Cola 2–0 Purefoods
3. Eighth-seed playoff: Barangay Ginebra 77–74 Sta. Lucia

Playoffs

	Quarterfinals						Semifinals (Best-of-5)					Finals (Best-of-7)
	#1 twice-to-beat
	1	Mobiline	67	81
	8	Brgy. Ginebra	81	82
							8	Brgy. Ginebra	0
	#4 twice-to-beat
							4	Formula Shell	3
	4	Formula Shell		79
	5	San Miguel		73
												4	Formula Shell	4
	#2 twice-to-beat
												3	Tanduay	2
	2	Alaska	74	W
	7	Purefoods	86	L
							2	Alaska	1			Third place playoff
	#3 twice-to-beat
							3	Tanduay	3
	3	Tanduay		91
												8	Brgy. Ginebra	95
	6	Pop Cola		77
												2	Alaska	73

Quarterfinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2
(1) Mobiline Phone Pals*	1–1	(8) Barangay Ginebra Kings	67–77	81–82
(2) Alaska Milkmen *	1–1	(7) Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	74–86	W–L
(3) Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters *	0–2	(6) Pop Cola 800s	91–77	—
(4) Formula Shell Zoom Masters *	1–0	(5) San Miguel Beermen	79–73	—

*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.

Semifinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5
(2) Alaska Milkmen	1–3	(3) Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters	84–86	77–98	103–98	93–111	—
(4) Formula Shell Zoom Masters	3–0	(8) Barangay Ginebra Kings	81–67	84–63	98–85	—	—

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(2) Alaska Milkmen	73–95	(8) Barangay Ginebra Kings

Finals

Main article: 1999 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(3) Tanduay Rhum Masters	4–2	(4) Shell Turbo Chargers	91–84	76–79	81–91	87–65	68–75	76–85	—

1999 PBA Commissioner's Cup

Main article: 1999 PBA Commissioner's Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Alaska Milkmen	6	2	.750	—	Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
2	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	5	3	.625	1
3	Sta. Lucia Realtors	5	3	.625	1
4	San Miguel Beermen	5	3	.625	1
5	Tanduay Rhum Masters	5	3	.625	1	Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6	Barangay Ginebra Kings	3	5	.375	3
7	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	3	5	.375	3
8	Mobiline Phone Pals	3	5	.375	3
9	Pop Cola 800s	1	7	.125	5

Source: PBA.ph

Playoffs

	Quarterfinals						Semifinals (Best-of-5)					Finals (Best-of-7)
	#1 twice-to-beat
	1	Alaska		88
	8	Mobiline		77
							1	Alaska	2
	#4 twice-to-beat
							4	San Miguel	3
	4	San Miguel		73
	5	Tanduay		67
												4	San Miguel	4
	#2 twice-to-beat
												2	Formula Shell	2
	2	Formula Shell	71	65
	7	Purefoods	78	58
							2	Formula Shell	3			Third place playoff
	#3 twice-to-beat
							3	Sta. Lucia	2
	3	Sta. Lucia		96
												1	Alaska	93
	6	Barangay Ginebra		75
												3	Sta. Lucia	88

Quarterfinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2
(1) Alaska Milkmen *	1–0	(8) Mobiline Phone Pals	88–77	—
(2) Formula Shell Zoom Masters *	1–1	(7) Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	71–78	65–58
(3) Sta. Lucia Realtors *	1–0	(6) Barangay Ginebra Kings	96–75	—
(4) San Miguel Beermen *	1–0	(5) Tanduay Rhum Masters	73–67	—

*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.

Semifinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5
(1) Alaska Milkmen	2–3	(4) San Miguel Beermen	79–68	78–86	W–L	69–75	73–84
(2) Formula Shell Zoom Masters	3–2	(3) Sta. Lucia Realtors	76–87	87–73	82–85	82–64	65–62

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(1) Alaska Milkmen	93–88	(3) Sta. Lucia Realtors

Finals

Main article: 1999 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(2) Formula Shell Zoom Masters	2–4	(4) San Miguel Beermen	64–68	68–78	89–87 (OT)	77–72	85–89	64–74	—

1999 PBA Governors' Cup

Main article: 1999 PBA Governors' Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	7	1	.875 [a]	—	Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
2	Tanduay Rhum Masters	7	1	.875 [a]	—
3	San Miguel Beermen	6	2	.750	1
4	Alaska Milkmen	5	3	.625	2
5	Shell Velocity	4	4	.500	3	Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6	Sta. Lucia Realtors	3	5	.375 [b]	4
7	Mobiline Phone Pals	3	5	.375 [b]	4
8	Barangay Ginebra Kings	1	7	.125	6
9	Pop Cola 800s	0	8	.000	7

Source: PBA.ph
Notes:

1. Head-to-head record: Purefoods 1–0 Tanduay
2. Head-to-head record: Sta. Lucia 1–0 Mobiline

Playoffs

	Quarterfinals						Semifinals (best-of-5)					Finals (best-of-7)
	#1 twice-to-beat
	1	Purefoods		80
	8	Brgy. Ginebra		74
							1	Purefoods	0
	#4 twice-to-beat
							4	Alaska	3
	4	Alaska		77
	5	Shell Velocity		65
												4	Alaska	2
	#2 twice-to-beat
												3	San Miguel	4
	2	Tanduay	78	84
	7	Mobiline	93	75
							2	Tanduay	0			Third place playoff
	#3 twice-to-beat
							3	San Miguel	3
	3	San Miguel		82
												1	Purefoods	92
	6	Sta.Lucia		66
												2	Tanduay	101

Quarterfinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2
(1) Purefoods TJ Hotdogs *	1–0	(8) Barangay Ginebra Kings	80–74	—
(2) Tanduay Rhum Masters *	1–1	(7) Mobiline Phone Pals	78–93	84–75
(3) San Miguel Beermen *	1–0	(6) Sta. Lucia Realtors	82–68	—
(4) Alaska Milkmen *	1–0	(5) Shell Velocity	77–65	—

*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.

Semifinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5
(1) Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	0–3	(4) Alaska Milkmen	91–92	80–86	L–W	—	—
(2) Tanduay Rhum Masters	0–3	(3) San Miguel Beermen	80–81	68–79	62–66	—	—

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(1) Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	92–101	(2) Tanduay Rhum Masters

Finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(3) San Miguel Beermen	4–2	(4) Alaska Aces	87–80 (2OT)	62–73	82–88	76–65	74–68	72–69	—

Awards

• Most Valuable Player : Benjie Paras (Shell)
• Rookie of the Year : Danny Seigle (San Miguel)
• Sportsmanship Award: Rey Evangelista (Purefoods)
• Most Improved Player: Elmer Lago (Ginebra)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jackson (Formula Shell)
• Mythical Five
  • Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
  • Jeffrey Cariaso (Mobiline)
  • Sonny Alvarado (Tanduay)
  • Benjie Paras (Shell)
  • Danny Seigle (San Miguel)
• Mythical Second Team
  • Olsen Racela (San Miguel)
  • Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
  • Eric Menk (Tanduay)
  • Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska)
  • Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska)
• All Defensive Team
  • Chris Jackson (Shell)
  • Freddie Abuda (San Miguel)
  • Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
  • Dindo Pumaren (Purefoods)
  • Eric Menk (Tanduay)

Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

• Coach of the Year:Perry Ronquillo (Shell)
• Mr. Quality Minutes: Rodney Santos (Alaska)
• Executive of the Year: Jun Bernardino (PBA commissioner)
• Comeback Player of the Year: Benjie Paras (Shell)
• Referee of the Year: Ernie de Leon

Cumulative standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT	Qualification
1	San Miguel Beermen	55	35	20	.636	Champions
2	Formula Shell Zoom Masters/Velocity	56	32	24	.571
3	Alaska Milkmen	56	32	24	.571	Finalist
4	Tanduay Rhum Masters	49	28	21	.571
5	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	40	20	20	.500	Fourth place
6	Mobiline Phone Pals	37	18	19	.486	Quarterfinalist
7	Sta. Lucia Realtors	41	17	24	.415	Fourth place
8	Barangay Ginebra Kings	41	14	27	.341	Third place
9	Pop Cola 800s	33	8	25	.242	Quarterfinalist

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Elimination round

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT
1	Tanduay Rhum Masters	32	21	11	.656
2	Alaska Milkmen	32	20	12	.625
3	San Miguel Beermen	32	19	13	.594
4	Formula Shell Zoom Masters/Velocity	32	18	14	.563
5	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	32	17	15	.531
6	Mobiline Phone Pals	32	17	15	.531
7	Sta. Lucia Realtors	32	14	18	.438
8	Barangay Ginebra Kings	32	10	22	.313
9	Pop Cola 800s	32	8	24	.250

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Playoffs

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L
1	San Miguel Beermen	23	16	7
2	Formula Shell Zoom Masters/Velocity	24	14	10
3	Alaska Milkmen	24	12	12
4	Tanduay Rhum Masters	17	7	10
5	Barangay Ginebra Kings	9	4	5
6	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs	8	3	5
7	Sta. Lucia Realtors	9	3	6
8	Mobiline Phone Pals	5	1	4
9	Pop Cola 800s	1	0	1

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Tighter PBA rules on imported cagers, Philippine Headline News Online