2001 Pop Cola Panthers season

2001   Pop Cola Panthers season
Head coach	Chot Reyes
Owner(s)	RFM Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	11–10 (52.4%)
Place	3rd seed
Playoff finish	Semis (lost to SMB)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	3–7 (30%)
Place	N/A
Playoff finish	N/A
Governors' Cup results
Record	10–10 (50%)
Place	3rd seed
Playoff finish	Semifinals (lost to Sta. Lucia)
Pop Cola Panthers seasons
←  2000 2002  →

The 2001 Pop Cola Panthers season was the 12th and final season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

Main article: 2001 PBA Draft

Transactions

Players Added Via Draft Renato Morano Ramon Jose Via Free Agency Allan Gamboa (Pop Cola's pick last year, elevated to the roster spot) Cris Bolado (From Red Bull) Via Trade Johnny Abarrientos (From Alaska Aces) Poch Juinio (From Alaska Aces) Pido Jarencio (From Tanduay Rhum Masters) Rudy Hatfield (From Tanduay Rhum Masters)

Players Lost Via Free Agency Henry Fernandez (To San Miguel Beermen) Mark Victoria (To Purefoods TJ Hotdogs) Via Trade Ali Peek (To Alaska Aces) Jon Ordonio (To Alaska Aces) Wynne Arboleda (To Tanduay Rhum Masters) Noli Locsin (To Tanduay Rhum Masters)

Occurrences

Pop Cola played their first three games in the Governor's Cup under the brand name "Swift", which the franchise last used back in 1994, known as Swift Panthers, they scored their first win over Red Bull, then revert to Pop Cola in their fourth game.

The Pop Cola ballclub was disbanded the following season after the PBA franchise was sold by RFM Corporation to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), in connection with the sale of Cosmos Bottling Corporation to CCBPI.

Roster

Pop Cola Panthers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 6 Lastimosa, Jojo 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) USJ–R G 10 Morano, Renato 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) San Beda F 11 Asaytono, Nelson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Manila F 12 Gamboa, Allan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines G 14 Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern F 16 Ballesteros, Estong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST G 22 Jose, Mon 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) De La Salle C 24 Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U G 25 Jarencio, Pido 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) UST C 32 Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines G 34 Antonio, William 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade F 99 Hatfield, Rudy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UM–Dearborn F 33 Sasser, Jason  (C) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Texas Tech G Watson, Jamie  (C) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) South Carolina SF 26 Ellis, Rosell  (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) McNeese State	Head coach Chot Reyes Assistant coach(es) Hector Calma Binky Favis Biboy Ravanes Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (C) Commissioner's Cup import (G) Governor's Cup import Injured

^{Team Manager: Elmer Yanga}

Elimination round

Games won

DATE	OPPONENT	SCORE	TOP SCORER	VENUE (Location)
February 2	Red Bull	88–77		Philsports Arena
February 16	Purefoods	96–92		Philsports Arena
February 21	Shell	75–67		Philsports Arena
March 10	Sta.Lucia	72–69		Laoag City
March 14	Brgy.Ginebra	100–84		Philsports Arena
March 25	Tanduay	82–75		Araneta Coliseum
April 1	Alaska	93–90	Rudy Hatfield (24)	Araneta Coliseum
April 6	Brgy.Ginebra	92–90		Araneta Coliseum
June 13	Shell	75–68	Jasson Sasser (31) [1]	Ynares Center
June 16	Tanduay	99–88	Jasson Sasser (37)	Ormoc City
June 27	Mobiline	82–79	Jasson Sasser (32)	Philsports Arena
September 19	Red Bull	83–80	Rosell Ellis (29) [2]	Araneta Coliseum
September 22	San Miguel	96–95 *OT		Ynares Center
September 28	Tanduay	94–76		Araneta Coliseum
October 3	Talk 'N Text	80–74	Rosell Ellis (28) [3]	Araneta Coliseum
October 21	Purefoods	85–84	Rosell Ellis (31) [4]	Araneta Coliseum
October 28	Brgy.Ginebra	83–71		Araneta Coliseum
November 11	Talk 'N Text	84–62		Araneta Coliseum

  All-Filipino Cup  Commissioner's Cup  Governor's Cup

References

1. "Pop whips Shell". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
2. "Panthers nose out Thunder". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
3. "Johnny stars in Pop Cola win". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
4. "Pop edges Purefoods". Philippine Daily Inquirer.