Grand Slam (PBA)

Last updated

In the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Grand Slam is the achievement of winning all three conference championships (tournaments) in a single season. As of 2020, this has been accomplished five times by four teams and four coaches since the league's inception in 1975. [1]

Contents

In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, at least one team swept the championships in one season. The decade 2000–2009 had no Grand Slam winner because of adjustments to the league calendar in 2004, in which the start of the season was moved from January to October and the number of conferences per season was reduced from three to two. The three-conference season format was reinstated in the 2010–11 season. [1]

In the PBA 3x3 tournament, a team can only win the Grand Slam if they win the championships of all three conferences in a season. This feat was first accomplished by the TNT Tropang Giga (later TNT Triple Giga) at the end of the 2022–23 season. [2]

Grand Slam winners

SeasonTeamCoachDefeated finalistsSeason
record		Ref.
FirstSecondThird
1976 Crispa Redmanizers Baby Dalupan Toyota ToyotaToyota47–15 (75.8%) [3]
1983 Crispa Redmanizers Tommy Manotoc Gilbey's Great Taste Great Taste46–16 (74.2%) [4]
1989 San Miguel Beermen Norman Black Shell Purefoods Añejo 50–21 (70.4%) [5]
1996 Alaska Milkmen Tim Cone Purefoods Shell Ginebra 51–21 (70.8%) [6]
2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers Tim Cone Rain or Shine Talk 'N Text Rain or Shine41–30 (57.7%) [7]

1976 Crispa Redmanizers

In the league's second season, the Crispa Redmanizers became the first team to win all of the conference championships in a single season. Before the start of the 1976 season, they had won the All-Philippine Championship, the third conference of the PBA's maiden season. The Redmanizers won all of the 1976 season conferences—the All-Filipino (reclassified as the First Conference in 2010), the Open (reclassified as the Second Conference), and the All-Philippine Championship—with an overall season record of 47–15. All of their championships were won against the Toyota Comets, who have been the Crispa Redmanizers' rivals since both teams played in MICAA. The Crispa Redmanizers' team was composed of future Hall of Famers Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, and Philip Cezar, and was coached by Baby Dalupan. [8]

1983 Crispa Redmanizers

Crispa Redmanizers achieved the Grand Slam again in the 1983 season. The team still comprised many of the same players as the 1976 Grand Slam team, but they were now coached by former U/Tex Wranglers tactician Tommy Manotoc. Crispa began the season by winning 12 consecutive games in the All-Filipino Conference, losing only their first game to Toyota in the start of the group stage. They finished the group stage with a 7–1 record, then won all of their playoff games, including their best-of-five series against Gilbey's Gin Tonics. The team's winning streak continued into the next conference, the Reinforced Filipino Conference, as Crispa won their first nine games in the group stage and ended their streak with 21 wins. [9] Also this conference, they hired former Portland Trail Blazer player Billy Ray Bates as their import. Crispa Redmanizers have won the conference championship against former Redmanizer Bogs Adornado and the Great Taste Coffee Makers by three games to two.

In the Open Conference, the final conference of the season, the Redmanizers again hired Bates as their import. They entered the finals against Great Taste. The Redmanizers again defeated the Coffee Makers in their best-of-five finals series. [10] Bates won Best Import of the Conference awards for the Reinforced Filipino and Open Conferences. Abet Guidaben won the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. [8]

1989 San Miguel Beermen

The San Miguel Beermen won the 1988 PBA Reinforced Conference championship before winning the 1989 Grand Slam. The San Miguel team comprised the core of the Northern Consolidated Cement team, which represented the Philippines in international tournaments. The NCC team also captured the 1985 PBA Reinforced Conference championship as a guest team. The players formerly of the NCC team were Hector Calma, Yves Dignadice, Samboy Lim, and Elmer Reyes. The team was coached by Norman Black, who twice won the best importee award. [11] The San Miguel Beermen also acquired former Purefoods Hotdogs center and playing coach Ramon Fernandez, controversially trading him for Abet Guidaben with the Hotdogs. [12]

With import Michael Phelps, San Miguel won the Open Conference —the first conference championship of the season—against Formula Shell Zoom Masters led by Bobby Parks. The Beermen struggled in the group stage of the All-Filipino Conference but went into the final against Purefoods Hotdogs and won the championship series in six games. In the final conference of the season, the Reinforced Conference, the Beermen performed poorly in the group stage and won most of their games in the semifinal round. They advanced to the finals against sister team Añejo Rum 65ers. They have won their best-of-seven series against the 65ers in five games. [8]

1996 Alaska Milkmen

The Alaska Milkmen won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the third conference of the 1995 season. The team comprised Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Bong Hawkins, and Jeffrey Cariaso. They were coached by Tim Cone, who was the first coach to implement the Triangle Offense system in the PBA. [13]

In the first conference of the 1996 season, the All-Filipino Cup, the Milkmen played the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs in the best-of-seven finals. In Game 5 of the championship series, Purefoods forced the game into overtime and held a one-point lead against Alaska, 92–91, with 10.3 seconds remaining. In the next play, Alaska was inbounding from their baseline behind the basket. Jeffrey Cariaso caught the ball in an alley-oop attempt but was fouled by Bong Ravena while trying to block the shot with 0.6 seconds left. Cariaso sank both of his free throws and gave Alaska the lead, 93–92. With no timeouts left, the TJ Hotdogs threw a desperate attempt from the opposite side of their basket and missed, giving the Milkmen the All-Filipino championship. [14]

In the second conference, the Commissioner's Cup, the Milkmen hired Derrick Hamilton as their import for the tournament. After the league found out about Hamilton's marijuana use, the Milkmen hired their resident import Sean Chambers to replace Hamilton. The Milkmen played against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters in the finals and won the championship in seven games. In the third and final conference of the season, the Governors' Cup, the Milkmen played Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The Milkmen won their series against the Gin Kings in five games. [8] Johnny Abarrientos won the MVP award at the end of the season. [15]

2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers

In 2011, the former Alaska coach Tim Cone took over the coaching duties of the B-Meg Llamados team—later renamed the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers. [16] The team's core comprised twice-league MVP James Yap, Marc Pingris, and PJ Simon. [17]

In the first conference of the 2013–14 season, the Philippine Cup, the Coffee Mixers performed poorly in their first games of the tournament and were ranked in fifth place at the end of the group stage. They faced arch-rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the semifinals and won their series in seven games. They beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the finals and won the championship by four games to two. [18]

In the Commissioner's Cup, the Coffee Mixers hired James Mays as their reinforcement for the tournament. Still struggling in the regular conference, the Coffee Mixers finished in sixth place with a 4–5 record. The team played the defending champions Alaska Milkmen in a best-of-three quarterfinal series. [19] [20] Alaska Milkmen won the first game 86–77, and were on verge of eliminating the Coffee Mixers. [21] The Coffee Mixers won the next two games to advance to the semifinal round [22] against Air21 Express, an unexpected semifinalist who had eliminated the second-seeded San Miguel Beermen, who had a twice-to-beat advantage.[ further explanation needed ] [23] Air21 Express, led by Asi Taulava, won the first game against the Mixers, 103–100. [24] The Coffee Mixers won the next two games; they took the series lead and were one win away from a place in the finals. Air21 Express scored 94 points in Game 4 and forced a rubber match. [25] Game 5 was won by the Coffee Mixers 99–83. [26] In the finals, they faced the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, who had a 13–0 record before the start of their championship series. [27] The Coffee Mixers won the first game of the series. [28] Talk 'N Text won Game 2 of the finals but the Coffee Mixers won the next two games and their third consecutive championship. [29]

In the Governors' Cup, the Coffee Mixers hired their resident import[ further explanation needed ] Marqus Blakely as their reinforcement for the tournament. The team finished the group stage with a 5–4 record and tied with Alaska, San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra, and Air21 in third place. Because of the quotient system imposed for tiebreakers in this conference, the Coffee Mixers were in fourth place, having the second-best quotient among the five teams. [30] The Coffee Mixers defeated fifth-seeded San Miguel Beermen in the quarterfinals in one game (SMC had a twice-to-beat advantage), 97–90. [31] The Coffee Mixers advanced to the semifinal round, where they played their Commissioner's Cup finals opponent the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. The Coffee Mixers won the first two games of their best-of-five series, giving them a lead to close the series and eliminate Talk 'N Text. However, the Tropang Texters won games 3 and 4, forcing a deciding Game 5. The rubber match[ further explanation needed ] was very close and no team led their opponent for more than seven points in the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the free-throw shooting problems and missed attempts in Talk 'N Text's paint allowed Coffee Mixers win the game and secure a place in the finals. [32] They played their Philippine Cup opponents, Rain or Shine. The Coffee Mixers won the series and the Grand Slam after five games. [33]

Failed Grand Slam bids

These teams won the first two conferences but were defeated in the last tournament:

Consecutive championships

In other instances, a team won three or even four consecutive conferences in two different seasons (akin to "Serena slam"). These teams were:

Grand Slam during the two-conference era

From the 2004–05 season to 2009–10 season, the league adopted a two-conference format: an All-Filipino tournament named the PBA Philippine Cup and an import-laced tournament named the PBA Fiesta Conference. A Grand Slam could be attained during this period by winning both titles instead of the usual three. No team in the PBA won this version of the Grand Slam. [41]

Other usage in the Philippines

The term "Grand Slam" has also come into local usage, in which a team/person wins at least three consecutive championships (see "three-peat"). In the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL), a Grand Slam could be won because the amateur league also has a three-conference format similar to that of the PBA. The Stag Pale Pilseners led by future Barangay Ginebra San Miguel players Marlou Aquino and Bal David won the PBL version of the Grand Slam in the league's 1995–96 season, coached by Alfrancis Chua the Stags dominated the said Season. [42]

The Tanduay Rhum Masters also won the said feat in the PBL's 1997–98 Season, also coached by Alfrancis Chua, the lineup of the Rhum Masters for the said season are Eric Menk, Mark Telan and Chris Cantojos.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Basketball Association</span> Mens professional basketball league in the Philippines

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the second-oldest continuously operating professional basketball league in the world after North America's NBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TNT Tropang Giga</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The TNT Tropang Giga is a professional basketball team currently owned by Smart Communications, a subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnolia Hotshots</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, or simply known as the Magnolia Hotshots, are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team is owned by San Miguel Food and Beverage, Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). The team is one of three PBA ball clubs currently owned by the SMC group of companies, along with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the San Miguel Beermen. They have 14 PBA championships, tied with the Alaska Aces for the third-most overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Cone</span> American professional basketball coach

Earl Timothy Cone is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is the most accomplished coach in PBA history with twenty-five (25) titles including two (2) Grand Slams, five (5) Coach of the Year awards, and the winningest coach of the League, tallying more than a thousand (1,000) games won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Miguel Beermen</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The San Miguel Beermen are a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). It is one of three PBA clubs owned by the San Miguel Corporation group of companies along with the Magnolia Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. It is the most successful franchise in the history of the PBA and the only remaining original franchise in the league. The Beermen have the most titles with 29 and the most all-time victories with more than 1,200 wins. In addition, it has won the Grand Slam in 1989 and the Perpetual Jun Bernardino Trophy after winning three straight PBA Philippine Cups from 2015 to 2017. It is also the only team to have won at least one PBA title in each of the six numerical decades of the league's existence and was the first professional basketball team ever to come back from a 0–3 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series which they did during the 2015–16 Philippine Cup Finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska Aces (PBA)</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The Alaska Aces were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) and the owner of 14 PBA championships, tied with the Magnolia Hotshots for the third-most titles overall. They are one of the most popular teams in the league and the Philippines.

The 1989 PBA season was the 15th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1996 PBA season</span> 22nd PBA season

The 1996 PBA season was the 22nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jun Bernardino Trophy</span> Award

The Jun Bernardino Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team that wins the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Cariaso</span> Filipino-American basketball player and coach

Jeffrey Joaquin Cariaso is a Filipino-American professional basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He also played for various PBA teams, mostly with Alaska, for 15 seasons. He is known as "The Jet". He is also the basketball operations director of Slam Magazine Philippines.

The 1983 Crispa Redmanizers season was the ninth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The 1996 Alaska Milkmen season was the 11th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The 1999 San Miguel Beermen season was the 25th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Clasico</span> Basketball rivalry

Manila Clasico refers to the rivalry between the two most popular professional basketball teams in the Philippines today, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Magnolia Hotshots, both owned by San Miguel Corporation. The former represents the Ginebra San Miguel franchise while the latter carries the San Miguel Pure Foods franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 PBA season</span> 39th PBA season

The 2013–14 PBA season was the 39th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on November 17, 2013, and finished on July 9, 2014. The league continued to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup is the second and third conferences for this season. Originally scheduled to end on August 13, the season schedule was shortened to allow more time for Gilas Pilipinas to prepare for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2014 Asian Games.

The 2013–14 San Mig Coffee Mixers season was the 26th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The 2014 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup finals was the best-of-5 championship series of the 2014 PBA Commissioner's Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters and the San Mig Super Coffee competed for the 14th Commissioner's Cup championship and the 111th overall championship contested by the league. The format was shortened to a best-of-5 format instead of the usual best-of-7 due to changes in the season calendar to accommodate Gilas Pilipinas's participation in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2014 Asian Games.

The 2014 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup finals was the best-of-5 championship series of the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The San Mig Super Coffee Mixers and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters competed for the 14th Governors' Cup championship and the 112th overall championship contested by the league. The format was shortened to a best-of-5 format instead of the usual best-of-7 due to changes in the season calendar to accommodate Gilas Pilipinas's participation in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2014 Asian Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 PBA season</span> 40th PBA season

The 2014–15 PBA season was the 40th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on October 19, 2014, and finished on July 17, 2015. The league continued to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were the second and third conferences for this season, respectively.

References

  1. 1 2 PBA GRAND SLAM: 18 years in the making Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , Tito S. Talao, Tempo, July 11, 2014
  2. ↑ "Tropang Giga achieves historic Season 2 Grand slam". 3x3.pba.ph. February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Talk 'N Text and the PBA's greatest dynasties, Jay P. Mercado, InterAKTV, February 1, 2012
  4. ↑ After 30 years, Crispa's win streak still unmatched, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, December 7, 2010
  5. ↑ To honor 1989 grand slam team, Petron to change name back to San Miguel Beermen, GMA News Online, January 13, 2014
  6. ↑ Amazing Alaska completes Grand Slam, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 18, 1996
  7. ↑ History rewritten: Mixers claim PBA Grand Slam Championship, Carlo Pamintuan, Yahoo PH Sports, July 9, 2014
  8. 1 2 3 4 Chasing A PBA Grand Slam: Crispa, San Miguel, And Alaska Provide The Blueprint For San Mig Coffee's Quest, Paolo Mariano, FHM Philippines, May 26, 2014
  9. ↑ As Heat continue to roll, let's recall record win streaks in NBA and PBA, By the numbers: by Fidel Mangonon, Spin. ph, March 21, 2013
  10. ↑ Fond Memories of Billy Ray Bates Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Tempo, October 11, 2011
  11. ↑ Norman Black, Franz Pumaren look back at San Miguel Beer's 1989 Grand Slam, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, January 16, 2014
  12. ↑ The ballad of the PBA journeyman, Jay P. Mercado, May 16, 2012
  13. ↑ Tim Cone planning to run triangle offense wherever he lands, Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV, September 6, 2011
  14. ↑ Alaska bags AFC crown, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, May 27, 1996
  15. ↑ Abarrientos is PBA's '96 MVP, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 16, 1996
  16. ↑ Cone named B-MEG Llamados' new coach, Renee Folapan, GMA News Online, September 14, 2011
  17. ↑ Yap, Simon and Pingris – the big three for big games, The Final Score by Mico Halili, GMA News Online, February 13, 2014
  18. ↑ PBA: From a disappointing start, San Mig Coffee Mixers rise to back-to-back titles, GMA News Online, February 26, 2014
  19. ↑ Meralco tops San Mig Coffee, finishes Commissioner's Cup elims with winning record Archived May 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 14, 2014
  20. ↑ Rain or Shine, Ginebra battle to avoid bottom playoff position; Alaska faces San Mig Coffee Archived May 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 14, 2014
  21. ↑ Alaska continues hot run in quarters, pushes San Mig Coffee to the brink Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 21, 2014
  22. ↑ San Mig Coffee ends Alaska's title reign, punches return ticket to semis Archived May 31, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 26, 2014
  23. ↑ History versus hunger: San Mig Coffee, Air 21 open best-of-five semifinals series Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 29, 2014
  24. ↑ Air 21 continues their surprising run with a semis Game One victory over San Mig Coffee Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, April 29, 2014
  25. ↑ Air 21 shoots down San Mig Coffee, forces do-or-die Game Five Archived May 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, May 5, 2014
  26. ↑ San Mig Coffee pummels Air 21 in semis Game Five, sets up finals rematch with Talk 'N Text Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, May 7, 2014
  27. ↑ Before Talk N Text, Crispa and Alaska had a shot at historic conference sweep. Find out what happened, "By the Numbers" by Fidel Mangonon III, spin.ph, May 4, 2014
  28. ↑ San Mig Coffee shatters Talk 'N Text streak to draw first blood in finals Archived May 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, May 9, 2014
  29. ↑ San Mig Coffee defeats Talk 'N Text to win Commissioner's Cup, third straight PBA title Archived May 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , InterAksyon.com, May 15, 2014
  30. ↑ Reid game-winner pushes Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 17, 2014
  31. ↑ Mixers bank on their bench to defeat and eliminate the San Miguel Beermen, Chris Lagunzad, Yahoo PH Sports, June 17, 2014
  32. ↑ San Mig Coffee sends home Talk 'N Text, advances to finals, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 27, 2014
  33. ↑ San Mig Super Coffee Mixers claim rare PBA Grand Slam, Rappler, July 10, 2014
  34. ↑ Jaworski before Ginebra: A look back at the Big J's Toyota years, Jay P. Mercado, , July 5, 2012
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Destined for a Grand Slam, Sporting Chance: by Quinito Henson, The Philippine Star, July 11, 2014
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 PEX SPECIAL FEATURE: The Top Ten Teams In PBA History, Jay P. Mercado, PinoyExchange.com, September 5, 2013
  37. ↑ Can TNT achieve the Grand Slam?, One Game At A Time: by Sev Sarmenta, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 28, 2011
  38. ↑ Basketball mania rules the Philippines, Maria Ressa, CNN, October 24, 1995
  39. ↑ Tim Cone sees parallels between San Mig Coffee's current run, Alaska's Grand Slam team, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, May 16, 2014
  40. ↑ Petron Blaze slams Talk 'N Text in epic game 7 to win Governors' Cup, InterAKTV, August 21, 2011
  41. ↑ San Mig's grand slam victory is destiny fulfilled, Bert A. Ramirez, Rappler, July 13, 2014
  42. ↑ Yearender: 'Twas a grand slam year in basketball, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 28, 1996

See also

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.