Grand Slam (PBA)
Encyclopedia
The Grand Slam in the Philippine Basketball Association
(PBA) refers to a PBA team who has won all three conferences (tournaments) in a single season. After the PBA reduced the number of conferences from three to two beginning in 2004, the term became quite obsolete to some. However, some dispute the claim that a team who could win all titles in a season can be said as a grand slam. The three-conference season format was revived in the 2010-2011 season which means a grandslam is at stake.
The 2000–2009 decade would be the first decade where there would be no grand slam winner; the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s all had at least one grand slam winner. Barangay Ginebra came the closest with two consecutive championships from 2004-2005 but was beaten by Red Bull in the wildcard phase of 2004-2005's second conference. Red Bull could've had won both conferences of the 2005-2006 season
but they were beaten by Purefoods in the second conference. Since 2005, no team was able to win successive championships, although Ginebra won two more times in that span, but in the 2010 - 2011 season the 3 conference format was revived thus giving way to all teams of having a chance to win the grand slam.
In other instances, a team won three or even four consecutive conferences in two different seasons. Purists say this is not a true grand slam. These teams were:
Also, the 1976 and 1980 Toyota Super Corollas and the 2004-2005 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals have the unfortunate distinction of losing all of the championship series in one season. Toyota lost all three against the Crispa Redmanizers in 1976 and lost to U/Tex, guest team N. Stoodley, and Crispa in 1980. The Phone Pals were defeated by the Beermen and the Barangay Ginebra Kings
in the two-conference format.
season, the term grand slam became obsolete to some. However, many dispute the claim that the term should stay since it is said that a team that wins all titles in a single season is a grand slam. However, ABC Sports
commentator Richard del Rosario mentioned during Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between Purefoods and Red Bull that a title win by the Bulls in the said series would give them the "modern day grand slam".
Curiously, the Barangay Ginebra Kings
won the transitional 2004 Fiesta Conference
, and the 2004-2005 Phlilippine Cup, the first tournament of the 2004-2005 season
. On the succeeding 2005 Fiesta Conference, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Red Bull Barako
. If the Kings won the 2005 Fiesta Conference, they could have been the last grand slam winners using the three-conference format (although those three conferences are in two separate - but consecutive - seasons).
The 3 conference format was revived for the 2011 season which means a chance of a grand slam is at stake.
").
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
(PBA) refers to a PBA team who has won all three conferences (tournaments) in a single season. After the PBA reduced the number of conferences from three to two beginning in 2004, the term became quite obsolete to some. However, some dispute the claim that a team who could win all titles in a season can be said as a grand slam. The three-conference season format was revived in the 2010-2011 season which means a grandslam is at stake.
The 2000–2009 decade would be the first decade where there would be no grand slam winner; the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s all had at least one grand slam winner. Barangay Ginebra came the closest with two consecutive championships from 2004-2005 but was beaten by Red Bull in the wildcard phase of 2004-2005's second conference. Red Bull could've had won both conferences of the 2005-2006 season
2005-06 PBA season
-Final results:*Fiesta Conference Finals: Red Bull def. Purefoods , 4 games to 2**Finals MVP: Lordy Tugade *Third place: Air21 -Final results:*Fiesta Conference Finals: (3) Red Bull (9-7) def. (1) Purefoods (10-6), 4 games to 2**Finals MVP: Lordy Tugade (Red Bull)*Third place: Air21 -Final...
but they were beaten by Purefoods in the second conference. Since 2005, no team was able to win successive championships, although Ginebra won two more times in that span, but in the 2010 - 2011 season the 3 conference format was revived thus giving way to all teams of having a chance to win the grand slam.
Grand Slam winners
Three teams and four coaches have achieved the said feat:| Season | |Team | |Coach | | Defeated finalists | | Season record |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Second | Third | ||||
| 1976 1976 PBA season The 1976 PBA Season was the second season of the Philippine Basketball Association . The season was memorable for it capped the first Grand Slam in the PBA, where the Crispa Redmanizers won all three conferences.-Notable events:... |
Crispa Redmanizers Crispa Redmanizers The Crispa Redmanizers was a basketball team in the Manila Industrial Commercial Athletic Association , the Philippine Basketball Association and the Philippine Amateur Basketball League from the 1960s to the early 1990s.- Profile and history :... |
Baby Dalupan Baby Dalupan Virgilio "Baby" Dalupan is a Filipino former basketball coach and player. He is the son of University of the East founder Dr. Francisco T... |
Toyota Toyota Super Corollas The Toyota Super Corollas was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association from 1975-1983. The team had various monikers such as the Comets, the Silver Tamaraws, the Tamaraws, the Super Diesels, the Super Corollas and the Silver Coronas.Their nine PBA titles is the... |
Toyota | Toyota | 47-15 (.758) |
| 1983 1983 PBA season The 1983 PBA season was the ninth season of the Philippine Basketball Association . The famed Crispa Redmanizers won its Second Grandslam after first doing the trick in 1976... |
Crispa Redmanizers | Tommy Manotoc Tommy Manotoc Tommy Manotoc is a former Filipino professional basketball coach in the PBA, for the U/Tex Wranglers, San Miguel Beer, Crispa Redmanizers, and the Mobiline Phone Pals and later became deputy commissioner of the PBA after Mariano Yenko died. He was also a former broadcaster for the PBA on Viva TV... |
Gilbey's Barangay Ginebra Kings The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation... |
Great Taste Great Taste Coffee Makers Great Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association . The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee... |
Great Taste | 46-16 (.742) |
| 1989 1989 PBA season The 1989 PBA season was the 15th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*The richest crop of rookies, and the most talented PBA batch of draftees, came to the PBA in its 15th.season, most notable names were Benjie Paras, Nelson Asaytono, Dindo Pumaren, Paul Alvarez, Zaldy... |
San Miguel Beermen San Miguel Beermen The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food... |
Norman Black Norman Black Norman Augustus Black is an American retired professional basketball player in the CBA, NBA, and PBA who has since settled in the Philippines. He is also a former head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, Mobiline Phone Pals, Pop Cola 800s, and Sta. Lucia Realtors... |
Shell Shell Turbo Chargers The Shell Turbo Chargers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team under the ownership of Pilipinas Shell Corporation. Shell has been a member of the PBA since 1985 until 2005 when the team filed for a leave of absence after the season. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints... |
Purefoods | Añejo Barangay Ginebra Kings The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation... |
50-21 (.704) |
| 1996 1996 PBA season -Finals results:*PBA Governors Cup Finals: Alaska Milkmen def. Ginebra San Miguel , 4 games to 1.*Third place: Formula Shell -Finals results:*PBA Governors Cup Finals: (1) Alaska Milkmen (8-3) def. (4) Ginebra San Miguel (7-4), 4 games to 1.*Third place: Formula Shell -Finals results:*PBA... |
Alaska Milkmen Alaska Aces (PBA) The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest... |
Tim Cone Tim Cone Earl Timothy Cone, better known as Tim Cone, is an American head coach of B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is known for leading the Aces to 13 PBA titles in its franchise history while leading the 1996 Milkmen to a rare PBA Grandslam. He also once coached the Philippine... |
Purefoods | Shell Shell Turbo Chargers The Shell Turbo Chargers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team under the ownership of Pilipinas Shell Corporation. Shell has been a member of the PBA since 1985 until 2005 when the team filed for a leave of absence after the season. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints... |
Ginebra Barangay Ginebra Kings The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation... |
51-21 (.708) |
"The Pretenders"
In addition, several others won the first two conferences but were beaten on the last tournament. They are known as "The Pretenders".- 19751975 PBA season-Notable events:*The first game was held on April 9, 1975 at the Araneta Coliseum with the Marisawa-Noritake Porcelainmakers beating Concepcion Carriers 101-98 in the opening game and Toyota edging out U/Tex, 105-101 in front of 18,000 spectators...
Toyota Tamaraws (lost to Crispa in the All-Philippine Championship) - 19771977 PBA seasonThe 1977 PBA season was the third season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*April 17, 1977 - Opening Game of the season between Crispa and Toyota, the Redmanizers won, 122-121 in a game marred by a free-for-all in the post-game fight, sending majority of the Crispa and...
Crispa Redmanizers (lost to Toyota in the Invitational Conference) - 19851985 PBA seasonThe 1985 PBA season was the 11th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*The season marked the first time without the famed Crispa Redmanizers participating in the league, a new team, Shell Azodrin took over the franchise of the disbanded Crispa.*The PBA found a new home...
Great Taste Coffee MakersGreat Taste Coffee MakersGreat Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association . The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee...
(missed Finals berth in the Reinforced Conference) - 19861986 PBA seasonThe 1986 PBA season was the 12th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*Alaska Milk marked its first participation in the league...
Tanduay Rhum MastersTanduay Rhum MastersThe Tanduay Rhum Masters is a former Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association , Philippine Basketball Association and Philippine Basketball League basketball team.-History:...
(missed Finals berth in the Open Conference) - 19951995 PBA seasonThe 1995 PBA season was the 21st season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Season Highlights:*The PBA returned to the Araneta Coliseum, after a decade of absence, with the scheduled games on Friday being held at the Big Dome....
Sunkist Orange JuicersPop Cola PanthersThe Pop Cola Panthers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team from 1990-2001 under the ownership of Cosmos Bottling Corporation, a subsidiary of RFM Corporation. Cosmos was sold to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., then-owned by San Miguel Corporation in 2001 which also includes the...
(missed Finals berth in the Governors Cup) - 19981998 PBA seasonThe 1998 PBA season was the 24th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Season Highlights:*The PBA is in their toughest challenge for the year, with the formation of a new league called Metropolitan Basketball Association, backed by the giant network ABS-CBN, is perceived to be a threat...
Alaska Milkmen (missed Finals berth in the Governors Cup) - 2004 PBA Fiesta Conference2004 PBA Fiesta ConferenceThe 2004 PBA Fiesta Conference, or known as the 2004 Gran Matador Brandy-PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, was tournament held by the Philippine Basketball Association and the first ever edition of the PBA Fiesta Conference....
to 2004–05 Barangay Ginebra KingsBarangay Ginebra KingsThe Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
(missed Finals berth in the Fiesta Conference) - 2010-112010–11 PBA seasonThe 2010–11 PBA Season is the 36th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. It started on October 3, 2010 and ended on August 21, 2011. The season marked the return of the original three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference...
Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters (lost to Petron in the Governors Cup)
In other instances, a team won three or even four consecutive conferences in two different seasons. Purists say this is not a true grand slam. These teams were:
- 19761976 PBA seasonThe 1976 PBA Season was the second season of the Philippine Basketball Association . The season was memorable for it capped the first Grand Slam in the PBA, where the Crispa Redmanizers won all three conferences.-Notable events:...
-19771977 PBA seasonThe 1977 PBA season was the third season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*April 17, 1977 - Opening Game of the season between Crispa and Toyota, the Redmanizers won, 122-121 in a game marred by a free-for-all in the post-game fight, sending majority of the Crispa and...
Crispa Redmanizers (includes the 1976 All-Philippine Championship which was part of the 1976 Grand Slam) - 19841984 PBA seasonThe 1984 PBA season was the 10th season of the Philippine Basketball Association . The season marked the first season without the famed Toyota squad and the final season of the 13-time league champion Crispa Redmanizers.-Champions:...
-19851985 PBA seasonThe 1985 PBA season was the 11th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*The season marked the first time without the famed Crispa Redmanizers participating in the league, a new team, Shell Azodrin took over the franchise of the disbanded Crispa.*The PBA found a new home...
Great Taste Coffee Makers (four straight championships) - 19951995 PBA seasonThe 1995 PBA season was the 21st season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Season Highlights:*The PBA returned to the Araneta Coliseum, after a decade of absence, with the scheduled games on Friday being held at the Big Dome....
-19961996 PBA season-Finals results:*PBA Governors Cup Finals: Alaska Milkmen def. Ginebra San Miguel , 4 games to 1.*Third place: Formula Shell -Finals results:*PBA Governors Cup Finals: (1) Alaska Milkmen (8-3) def. (4) Ginebra San Miguel (7-4), 4 games to 1.*Third place: Formula Shell -Finals results:*PBA...
Alaska Milkmen (four straight championship '95 Governor's Cup and '96 Grand Slam) - 19971997 PBA seasonThe 1997 PBA season was the 23rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*The entry of Fil-Americans in the PBA, for the first time in league history, the top two picks of the Annual Rookie draft was born outside the Philippines, the 6-9 Andrew John Seigle, a discovery...
-19981998 PBA seasonThe 1998 PBA season was the 24th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Season Highlights:*The PBA is in their toughest challenge for the year, with the formation of a new league called Metropolitan Basketball Association, backed by the giant network ABS-CBN, is perceived to be a threat...
Alaska Milkmen (three straight championships) - 20002000 PBA seasonThe 2000 PBA season was the 26th of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*PBA's TV partner, Vintage Television was absorbed by Viva Entertainment.*Batang Red Bull Energizers entered the league as an expansion team....
-20012001 PBA seasonThe 2001 PBA season was the 27th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*During the preseason, Tanduay made soundwaves in the PBA when they signed Danny Ildefonso of corporate rival San Miguel Beermen a whopping 16-year, 98 million peso offersheet...
San Miguel Beermen (three straight championships)
Also, the 1976 and 1980 Toyota Super Corollas and the 2004-2005 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals have the unfortunate distinction of losing all of the championship series in one season. Toyota lost all three against the Crispa Redmanizers in 1976 and lost to U/Tex, guest team N. Stoodley, and Crispa in 1980. The Phone Pals were defeated by the Beermen and the Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
in the two-conference format.
Modern-day Grand Slam
After the number of conferences was reduced from three to two that began in the 2004-20052004-05 PBA season
The 2004-05 PBA season is the 30th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. Instead of the usual calendar year of February-December, the league changed its schedule to the current October-July format, while limiting the number of conferences from three to two...
season, the term grand slam became obsolete to some. However, many dispute the claim that the term should stay since it is said that a team that wins all titles in a single season is a grand slam. However, ABC Sports
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
commentator Richard del Rosario mentioned during Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals between Purefoods and Red Bull that a title win by the Bulls in the said series would give them the "modern day grand slam".
Curiously, the Barangay Ginebra Kings
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
won the transitional 2004 Fiesta Conference
2004 PBA Fiesta Conference
The 2004 PBA Fiesta Conference, or known as the 2004 Gran Matador Brandy-PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, was tournament held by the Philippine Basketball Association and the first ever edition of the PBA Fiesta Conference....
, and the 2004-2005 Phlilippine Cup, the first tournament of the 2004-2005 season
2004-05 PBA season
The 2004-05 PBA season is the 30th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. Instead of the usual calendar year of February-December, the league changed its schedule to the current October-July format, while limiting the number of conferences from three to two...
. On the succeeding 2005 Fiesta Conference, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Red Bull Barako
Red Bull Barako
The Barako Bull Energy Boosters was a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association that is owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation...
. If the Kings won the 2005 Fiesta Conference, they could have been the last grand slam winners using the three-conference format (although those three conferences are in two separate - but consecutive - seasons).
The 3 conference format was revived for the 2011 season which means a chance of a grand slam is at stake.
Other usages in the Philippines
The term has also come into local usage in which a team/person wins at least three consecutive championships (see "three-peatThree-peat
Three-peat is a contraction of the words three and repeat, which has been trademarked for commercial use by retired basketball coach Pat Riley; the active trademarks in force are registered under numbers 1552980, 1878690, and 1886018...
").
See also
- Philippine Basketball Association ChampionsPhilippine Basketball Association ChampionsThe Philippine Basketball Association awards a championship trophy to the winning team at the end of each conference ....