2002 Red Bull Thunder season

2002   Red Bull Thunder season
Head coach	Yeng Guiao
General Manager	Tony Chua
Owner(s)	Tony Chua
Governor's Cup results
Record	8–8 (50%)
Place	5th seed
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	15–7 (68.2%)
Place	1st seed
Playoff finish	Champions (def. Talk 'N Text 4-3)
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	9–4 (69.2%)
Place	1st seed
Playoff finish	Semis (lost to Alaska)
Red Bull Thunder seasons
←  2001 2003  →

The 2002 Red Bull Thunder season was the 3rd season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

Main article: 2002 PBA draft

Occurrences

Fil-foreigners Davonn Harp and Mick Pennissi were selected as aspirants for the National team in the coming Busan Asian Games in South Korea. Both players were on loan to the Philippine-Hapee toothpaste training squad during the season's first offing.

Championship

Last year's Commissioner's Cup Best Import Tony Lang came back and teamed up with fellow returnee Julius Nwosu to help Batang Red Bull retain the title they won last season. The Thunder reached the finals against Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. After four games and the series tied at two games apiece, Lang was accused of game-fixing and was replaced by NBA veteran Sean Lampley.

Batang Red Bull won their second PBA title in three years by defeating the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in seven games. The Thunder overcame a 2-3 series deficit by taking the last two games to successfully defend the Commissioner's Cup crown.

Main article: 2002 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals

Transactions

Players Added Via Draft Homer Se Via Free Agency Oliver Agapito (From defunct Tanduay Rhum Masters) Nelson Asaytono (Signed in March 2002; from defunct Pop Cola Panthers) Vince Hizon (Last played in the MBA) Noli Locsin (From defunct Tanduay Rhum Masters) Erwin Velez (Drafted by Mobiline in 2000)

Players Lost Via Free Agency Lowell Briones (To Coca Cola Tigers) Via Trade Kerby Raymundo (To Purefoods TJ Hotdogs for next year's 1st and 2nd round picks)

Roster

2002 Red Bull Thunder roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 3 Jimwell Torion 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) SCSIT F 4 Davonn Harp 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Kutztown F 6 Noli Locsin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle F 7 Mick Pennisi 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Eastern Michigan F 8 Nelson Asaytono 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Manila F 9 Jay Mendoza 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mapúa F 10 Junthy Valenzuela 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SCSIT G 11 Willie Miller 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Letran G/F 12 Vince Hizon 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ateneo G 13 Anton Villoria 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Letran F 15 Lordy Tugade 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) National-U F 16 Homer Se 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Sebastian F 19 Erwin Velez 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran F 20 Edmund Reyes 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST C 22 Oliver Agapito 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) St. Benilde F 45 Joe Bunn  (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Phillips F 99 Julius Nwosu  (G/C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Liberty F 42 Antonio Lang  (G/C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Duke F 21 & 88 Sean Lampley  (G/C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) California

Head coach Yeng Guiao Assistant coach(es) Roehl Nadurata Rudolf Hines Gil Lumberio Andy Jao Legend (C) Team captain (G) Governor's Cup Import Injured

Eliminations (Won games)

Date	Opponent	Score	Venue (Location)
February 12	Shell	94-81	Philsports Arena [1]
February 17	FedEx	107-99	Araneta Coliseum
February 24	RP-Selecta	80-69	Philsports Arena
March 9	RP-Hapee	90-82	Cuneta Astrodome
March 17	Sta.Lucia	91-85	Araneta Coliseum
April 20	Purefoods	93-77	Philsports Arena
June 16	Brgy.Ginebra	81-69	Araneta Coliseum
June 23	Alaska	85-77	Araneta Coliseum [2]
June 30	Sta.Lucia	66-62	Araneta Coliseum
July 11	San Miguel	78-73	Cuneta Astrodome
July 14	Coca Cola	72-60	Ynares Center
July 26	RP-Selecta	75-51	Ynares Center
July 28	Talk 'N Text	92-80	Araneta Coliseum
October 23	Coca Cola	76-70	Philsports Arena
October 27	Alaska	59-57	Araneta Coliseum
November 6	Sta.Lucia	66-58	Cuneta Astrodome
November 10	San Miguel	75-74 OT	Araneta Coliseum [3]
November 20	Purefoods	96-66	Cuneta Astrodome
November 23	Shell	82-65	Cuneta Astrodome
November 29	Brgy.Ginebra	84-67	Cuneta Astrodome
December 1	FedEx	80-77	Araneta Coliseum

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

References

1. "Hot Bunn powers Red Bull past Shell". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
2. "Red Bull upends Alaska". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
3. "Red Bull frustrates SMB". Philippine Daily Inquirer.