1998 Pop Cola 800s season
Head coachNorman Black
Owner(s)RFM Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record1111
(50%)
Place3rd
Playoff finishSemifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record78
(46.7%)
Place3rd
Playoff finishSemifinals
Governors' Cup results
Record87
(53.3%)
Place5th
Playoff finishEliminated
Pop Cola 800s seasons

The 1998 Pop Cola 800s season was the ninth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Nationality College
1 3 Ali Peek  United States Saint Mary's
1 4 Brixter Encarnacion  Philippines SSC-Recoletos
2 9 Jasper Ocampo  Philippines SSC-Recoletos
3 Terrence Bito  United States Cal State Northridge
4 Jesse Cabanayan  Philippines Baguio

Summary

After two years and six conferences of non-semifinal appearances, Pop Cola finally made it to the semifinal round in coach Norman Black's first full season with the RFM ballclub.[1] The 800s placed third in the All-Filipino Cup by winning their one-game battle with Sta.Lucia for third place.

NBA journeyman Sean Higgins was Pop Cola's import in the Commissioner's Cup, Higgins lasted eight games and was replaced by Marcus Liberty, who led the 800s to three straight wins and an outright semifinals berth. After the eliminations, Liberty went back to the States to settle a family problem. Sherell Ford, a legitimate NBA first round pick, plane in for the best-of-five semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen and scored 42 points in Pop Cola's 97–106 loss in Game one. The Beermen easily won in Game two and Pop Cola coach Norman Black decided for the team to replaced Ford. Assistant coach Alfrancis Chua recommended Marcus Timmons, who played for him at Tanduay in the PBL, Timmons' efforts were not enough to hold back the Beermen in the 800s' 79–92 loss in Game three. After Timmons left for Australia, coach Norman Black was forced to play in their game against Formula Shell for third place, Black makes history by becoming the oldest import to play in the league at age 41, leading his team to an 84–80 win over Shell.

Pop Cola had a pair of Victor Page and Paul Graham as their import for the Centennial Cup. After three games, Page was replaced by the comebacking Tony Harris, who led the 800s to four wins in eight games he played before a fracture in his right hand cut short his stint and was replaced by David Booth in their second outing in the Governor's Cup. Pop Cola lost their last game to Purefoods, 95–104 in overtime and the 800s missed out a semifinals berth, finishing one game behind the four semifinalist with eight wins and seven losses.

Notable dates

February 10: Pop Cola pick up their first win of the season after two losses to San Miguel and Alaska by winning over Formula Shell, 88–74.[2]

March 21: Pop Cola smothered a weary Sta.Lucia five, 78–70, for its second straight win in the All-Filipino Cup semifinals. The 800s improved their won-loss record to 7–6.[3]

Roster

1998 Pop Cola 800 roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
F 00 Philippines Meneses, Vergel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) José Rizal
F/C 2 United States Peek, Ali 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Saint Mary's
C 4 Philippines Balingit, Bonel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Visayas
F 5 Philippines Encarnacion, Brixter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) San Sebastian
G 6 Philippines Cabanayan, Jessie 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) Baguio
G 7 Philippines Ocampo, Jasper 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) San Sebastian
G 9 Philippines Victoria, Boybits 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) San Beda
G 10 Philippines Fernandez, Boyet 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) San Agustin
F 11 Philippines Morelos, Marcelino 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UE
F 15 Philippines Lago, Dwight 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) De La Salle
F 33 United States Belasco, Nic 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Notre Dame
C 35 Philippines Realubit, Zaldy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) USJ–R
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  • Philippines Elmer Yanga

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Transactions

Recruited imports

Tournament Name Number Position University/College Duration
Commissioner's Cup Sean Higgins 3 Forward University of Michigan May 22 to June 16
Marcus Liberty 32 Forward University of Illinois June 21 to July 3
Sherell Ford Forward UIC July 19-21
Marcus Timmons Forward Southern Illinois July 24 (one game)
Norman Black 24 Center-Forward Saint Joseph's August 2 (one game)
Governors' Cup Victor Page 12 Guard Georgetown August 28 to September 5
Paul Graham 8 Guard Ohio August 28 to November 3
Tony Harris 22 Guard-Forward UNO September 8 to October 9
David Booth Forward DePaul October 16 to November 3

References

  1. "Despite defeat to Alaska Milk, Pop Cola makes it". Manila Standard.
  2. "As Pop ends losing streak, Castillo snaps jinx, but Cabanayan steals show". Manila Standard.
  3. "Pop Cola whips SLR 5 without Meneses". Manila Standard.
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