San Miguel Beermen
Encyclopedia
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association
. The team (known as the San Miguel Beermen for most of its existence) 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 and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation
. Petron is one of three PBA ball clubs owned by SMC affiliates and subsidiaries. The two are the B-Meg Llamados and the Barangay Ginebra Kings
.
in 1975 due to their dismay with the Basketball Association of the Philippines
. This led to the formation of the first professional basketball league known as the Philippine Basketball Association
.
, volleyball
, football, among other games. But as always, it was basketball which became prominent.
A 1971 lineup was mentioned in this thread
San Miguel Braves
For more on the fans account on the famed MICAA, Click here
Manny Paner, Rosalio Martirez, and David Regullano were all members of the 1973 squad that won the Asian Basketball Confederation Championships held in Manila. Regullano and Rogelio "Tembong" Melencio alternated in shackling the high-scoring Shin Dong Pa of South Korea.
, they were known as the Royal Tru-Orange, an orange juice soda of their parent company San Miguel Corporation
under the Coca-Cola
brand. Royal finished third place in all three conferences in 1975.
Royal was bannered by center Manny Paner, forward Estoy Estrada and point guard Yoyong Martirez. Both Paner and Estrada made it to the Mythical Team. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=778&st=10 In the import-laden Open Conference, they paraded the high-scoring Carl Bird.
Manny Paner and Estoy Estrada became free agents in 1977 and they later signed with Presto and Toyota, respectively. San Miguel signed shooter Valerio delos Santos and center Marte Samson to replace their departed stars in a cost-cutting move.
1979 was the time when the team had two imports of unlimited height playing together - these were 6'9 Otto Moore and 6'7 Larry Pounds. They faced Toyota in the finals of that best of five series which they won in four games. Moore and Pounds were backstopped by a crew made up of a lot of Visayan cagers like Tony Torrente, Yoyong Martirez, Jess Migalbin, Salvador Ramas, Melchor Ravanes plus a host of others like Rudy Lalota, Leo Paguntalan, ex-PSBA standout Ramon Dizon, and ex-UV
Green Lancer Marlowe Jacutin. The team was coached by ironically, future Toyota coach Ed Ocampo.
The Royal Tru Orange was the second team in PBA history to break the Crispa-Toyota stranglehold as far as winning championships were concerned. The year before, in 1978
, UTex was the first team to do so when they beat Crispa for the title. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=778&view=findpost&p=205195
San Miguel won the 1982
PBA Invitational tournament, defeating the Crispa Redmanizers
in three games with Tommy Manotoc as head coach. Marte Saldaña won Rookie of the Year honors that year after coming over from the MICAA ranks. He complemented well with Best Import Award winner Norman Black
and was instrumental in San Miguel's second championship in the 1982 Invitationals against Crispa. Another Saldaña, Antero or Terry of Toyota was also favored to win the Rookie of the Year award but he instigated a free-for-all against the national team of South Korea
and by way of penalty, Terry Saldaña was taken out of the Rookie of the Year Award race. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=778&view=findpost&p=31524
After Manotoc left to coach Crispa for the 1983 season
(which later resulted in a grand slam
), San Miguel (was also known as Gold Eagle Beer) managed to win just one third place finish for the next two seasons. In 1985
, Gold Eagle changed its name to Magnolia Quench Plus, a product of an SMC subsidiary, but despite the efforts of import Norman Black, Magnolia failed to enter the championship chase.
. Chairman Danding Cojuangco, a well-known Marcos crony fled the country.
Following its disbandment, the former Magnolia players were absorbed by a new PBA team in Alaska Milk
for the 1986 season. But the San Miguel franchise emerged under the Magnolia Cheese banner during the final months of the season.
In 1985, the famed Northern Consolidated team won several international basketball tournaments with Samboy Lim
, Allan Caidic
and Hector Calma
, including the PBA Reinforced Conference. The NCC team was funded by Cojuangco, but the program was halted a year later due to the change in government.
With Magnolia's return in the final months of 1986
, the team absorbed Lim, Calma, Franz Pumaren, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, Alfie Almario, Pido Jarencio and Tonichi Yturri from the core of the NCC team but failing to qualify for the semi-finals. The start of 1987 PBA season
brought new hope for the team. Magnolia's prized catch, however, was former Crispa and Manila Beer stalwart Abet Guidaben
. Import Norman Black
began his coaching career at this time. Ricardo Brown
was also added to the squad after acquiring the former MVP from Great Taste.
Magnolia finished third in the Open and All-Filipino Conferences. By the Reinforced tournament, the team reverted back to its old name San Miguel Beer. While the Beermen would later wear their traditional red and white jerseys, they wore a green and white color during the conference.
With Bobby Parks
as import, San Miguel was able to win the conference and the franchise's first in five years defeating the Hills Bros. Coffeemakers, led by the Bruise Brothers Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa, in five games.
Guidaben was named season MVP
but not without controversy. Many people thought that Villamin was more deserving than Guidaben.
season by winning the Open Conference that year. After placing fourth in the next conference, San Miguel traded Guidaben to Purefoods for Ramon Fernandez
. The trade was executed in the height of a disagreement between Fernandez and the Purefoods management.
With Fernandez, the Beermen regained another championship by defeating the Shell Rimula-X
in the finals of the Reinforced Conference. Fernandez won his fourth and last Most Valuable Player Award
.
In 1989
, San Miguel began one of the greatest seasons in league history. The Beermen defeated Shell
led by Benjie Paras
and Ronnie Magsanoc
in the Open Conference, 4-1. In the All-Filipino Conference, San Miguel defeated a young but hungry Purefoods team in six games. At season's end, San Miguel completed the PBA's third grand slam
by trouncing Robert Jaworski
's Anejo Rhum 65
in five games with the enlistment of quality import and former Chicago Bull Ennis Whatley.
At the time, San Miguel joined Crispa
(1976
, 1983
) as the only squads to win the coveted grand slam.
"El Presidente" was a prime candidate to win his fifth MVP, but Fernandez was denied by Paras, who became the first and still the only player to win the Rookie of the Year
and Most Valuable Player awards
in the same season. He was however, hailed the MVP by the Philippine Sports Press Corps.
, San Miguel defeated Purefoods in seven games to capture the All-Filipino Cup. Ato Agustin became a star on the San Miguel lineup winning the Most Valuable Player Award
. However, some believed that Swift's
Nelson Asaytono could have won it.
Following Presto's (formerly Great Taste) disbandment in 1993
, San Miguel acquired shooter Allan Caidic
. The trio of Agustin, Samboy Lim and Caidic in 1993 proved to be the peak of San Miguel's backcourt strength. It was during this time that San Miguel's back court became the yard stick of all PBA teams.
San Miguel won the Governor's Cup crown with Kenny Travis as import. At this time, it was the Beermen's 10th PBA title, surpassing Toyota for second on the all-time list.
, the league announced that the winner of the All-Filipino Cup would represent the Philippines
in the 1994 Asian Games
in Hiroshima
, Japan
. San Miguel faced Coney Island for the championship, which the Beermen won 4-2. However, with several key San Miguel players suffering from multiple injuries, the team had no choice but to add several players from other PBA teams and in the amateur ranks.
Alvin Patrimonio
, Jerry Codiñera
, Rey Evangelista, and Johnny Abarrientos
from the pros and then-amateurs Marlou Aquino
and Kenneth Duremdes
were among those added to the mix. At one point, San Miguel wore the national team colors during the Commissioner's Cup, only to lose to Swift for third place.
At the Asian Games, the SMB-led national team failed to bag a single medal by ending up in fourth place behind China
, Korea, and Japan
. However, Allan Caidic
was the Asian Games basketball tournament leading scorer and was named in the Asiad All-Star Mythical Five Team.
After the season, Fernandez announced his retirement
from the PBA after a stellar 20 season career that spanned three decades and also long time guard Hector Calma retired due to injuries.
In 1995
, San Miguel was struggling to maintain its ranks as among the best teams in the league with Sunkist and Alaska
dominating at the time. All superstars Allan Caidic
, Samboy Lim
, Ato Agustin
are injured and to cover the scoring gap Alvin Teng was traded to Seven Up for Gido Babilonia and Victor Pablo after All Filipino Conference. Acquired Freddie Abuda from purefoods, drafted Lou Regidor, Mike Mustre, Matt Makalintal, Gilbert Castillo and Bryant Punzalan. Though the beermen didn't prosper on first two conferences but in Governor's Conference with Kenny Travis back as import San Miguel broke Sunkist's dream of a grandslam by entering the finals of the Governor's Cup, only to lose to Alaska in a seven game showdown.
, the team finished third in the All-Filipino while nabbing fourth in the season-ending Governor's Cup. Early in the year, San Miguel traded Ato Agustin to Sunkist for known-scorer Nelson Asaytono and traded Victor Pablo to Shell for Paul "Mr. Excitement" Alvarez. The third conference saw the arrival of Lamont Strothers to the PBA. After the season, Norman Black
left the team and became the head coach of Mobiline. Replacing him was former NCC coach Ron Jacobs.
Before the 1997
season began, controversy surrounded the hiring of Ron Jacobs, due to objections by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP). The BCAP believed that it endangered the chance of local coaches to enter the PBA. But, Jacobs remained coach of San Miguel for the league's 23rd season. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/9225/970301c.html&date=2009-10-25+07:06:03
With San Miguel in a sort of a rebuilding mode, Jacobs was able to mold young players like Olsen Racela
who was acquired from Purefoods, Mike Mustre as well as veterans Asaytono, "Mr. Excitement" Bong Alvarez, Dignadice and Art dela Cruz into a strong team each conference. San Miguel won third place in all three conferences of the '97 campaign. The Beermen failed to enter the finals in the Commissioner's and Governor's Cups, respectively, losing in two do-or-die games against Gordon's Gin
and Purefoods. Jeff Ward was the import during the second conference while Larry Robinson played for SMB in the third conference.
Asaytono was a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award
but lost to Purefoods' Alvin Patrimonio
.
In 1998
, San Miguel drafted Noy Castillo as the second overall pick in the draft. But, Castillo was quickly shipped to Shell
in exchange for National University
standout Danny Ildefonso
.
The Beermen made a strong showing in the All-Filipino Conference but lost to Alaska
in the Finals in seven games. In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel brought back Strothers to replace Jeff Ward during the tournament. SMB made its return to the finals but was defeated by the Milkmen in the rematch of the All-Filipino Cup, this time in six games.
After the conference, Racela was loaned to the PBA Centennial team. As incentive, all PBA teams were allowed to hire two imports in the Governor's Cup. Strothers and Robinson teamed up for San Miguel, but with their height disadvantage against other teams, the Beermen failed to either win the special Centennial Cup or the season-ending Governor's Cup.
Ron Jacobs resigned after two seasons with the Beermen. His assistant coach and former NCC protégé Jong Uichico
took over as head coach.
New coach Jong Uichico began his first season with San Miguel in 1999
. As part of the PBA's new rule to allow each team one direct-hire Filipino-foreigner, San Miguel acquired the services of Danny Seigle
, younger brother of then Mobiline center Andy Seigle
, to bolster the team along with former Pop Cola
guard Boybits Victoria.
However, San Miguel struggled in the All-Filipino Cup and was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Formula Shell
. One of their finest moments was during a match against Mobiline and star center Asi Taulava
. San Miguel's 67-66 squeaker on Asaytono's two clutch free-throws handed the Phone Pals its first defeat after winning their first seven games.
In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel tapped former Mobiline import Terquin Mott. Mott, a known temperamental player during his first stint in the league, molded well with his local teammates as San Miguel was able to make a strong showing in the elimination round. San Miguel also parted way with Asaytono, shipping him to Pop Cola
for Nic Belasco
and Dwight Lago. The Beermen upset the defending champion Alaska Milkmen
in the semis to enter the Finals against All-Filipino winner Formula Shell with Benjie Paras
and import John Best. San Miguel won the first two games of the series before Shell tied the series at 2-2. But the Beermen won the last two games to win their 12th PBA crown and their first in five years.
In the Governor's Cup, San Miguel brought back Strothers as the Beermen cruised into the Finals of the said tournament against Alaska. The Milkmen even led the series at 2-1 but San Miguel was able to win the last three games to win their second straight championship in six games.
Seigle was named as the Rookie of the Year at season's end and also threatened to beat Paras for the MVP plum, but the "Tower of Power" won the 1999 MVP award.
San Miguel failed to win the 2000
All-Filipino Cup by finishing fourth in the tournament. The Beermen, however, defended the Commissioner's Cup trophy, with NBA veteran Stephen Howard
on the lineup, defeating Sta. Lucia
. In the Governor's Cup, with Strothers back, they defeated Purefoods in five games for their 15th PBA title. Danny Ildefonso
won his first Most Valuable Player Award
at the end of the season.
In 2001
, they were favorites to win the All-Filipino Cup and San Miguel did so to enter the finals against sister team Barangay Ginebra and prized rookie Mark Caguioa
. After the series was tied at 2-2, SMB survived in overtime to win Game Five and blew out the Kings in Game Six to capture their first All-Filipino title in seven years.
San Miguel was now favored to win the grand slam, but the young Batang Red Bull Thunder upset SMB in the finals of the Commissioner's Cup in six games while the Sta. Lucia Realtors
, behind former SMB mentor Norman Black
defeated his former club 4-2 in the season-ending Governor's Cup.
Ildefonso, meanwhile won his second consecutive MVP
in 2001. Some observers though believed that it was Danny Seigle
who deserved to win the award.
Ildefonso, Racela, newly-acquired Dondon Hontiveros
, Seigle and coach Jong Uichico concentrated their time with the RP National team in the 2002 season
. Meanwhile, San Miguel was left with only Dorian Peña
and Boybits Victoria on the team. San Miguel fielded in Strothers and later former NBA
veteran Mario Bennett for the Governor's Cup. After the Beermen finished eighth in the elimination round, SMB upset the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in the quarterfinals but was eliminated by Alaska in the semi-finals and finished fourth in the tournament. Strothers announced his retirement after the tournament.
In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel took Shea Seals and Art Long as import. But the temperamental Long got into a dirty scuffle with Red Bull import Antonio Lang during a game despite San Miguel finishing fourth after the elimination phase. Terquin Mott replaced Long before the end of the eliminations. After eliminating Coca-Cola
in the quarters, Red Bull eliminated them in the semis before finishing third.
In the All-Filipino, San Miguel was decimated by Danny Seigle's injury with the national team. Racela, Ildefonso and Hontiveros returned for San Miguel but they were eliminated by Coca-Cola in the semis to finished third for the second-straight conference.
San Miguel returned in the 2003
on a bright note. After the elimination round of the All-Filipino, they finished first in Group A to qualify for the quarterfinals phase of the tournament. But the Beermen failed to enter the semis after finishing 1-2 in the single-round robin format. Their great finish in the All-Filipino helped the Beermen qualify for the Invitational tournament, but San Miguel failed to advance to the semis.
In the first Reinforced Conference in more than a decade, San Miguel fielded in several lemon imports before settling on former Sta. Lucia import Kwan Johnson. After a 0-5 start, San Miguel went 10-3 the rest of the way to enter the Finals, but lost in seven games to the Coca-Cola Tigers
.
season. Art Long made his return as import for San Miguel in the 2004 Fiesta Conference
, a transition tournament. Long and the Beermen powered its way to a 9-0 start before finishing the tournament in first place after the eliminations. But once again, San Miguel failed to enter the semis after a 1-2 record in the quarterfinals.
In the 2004-2005 Philippine Cup (formerly the All-Filipino Cup), the Beermen finished the classification phase with an even 9-9 record. In the quarterfinals, San Miguel swept the Sta. Lucia Realtors
in a three-game series. Then, the Beermen also swept Alaska
in the quarterfinals. In the semis against sister rival Barangay Ginebra
, the Beermen took a 2-1 series in the best-of-five affair but the Kings won the next two games to win the series, that capped with Rodney Santos
' game-winner in the deciding game. The Beermen then beat Shell to cop third-place in the tournament.
Chris Burgess was San Miguel's import for the 2005 Fiesta Conference. San Miguel finished the classification phase in second place to gain an outright semi-finals berth. Midway to the semis, Burgess was replaced by Ace Custis and became an effective replacement for San Miguel. The Beermen eliminated Red Bull in the semi-finals to enter the Finals against the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. The Beermen defeated the Phone Pals 4-1 to give the team its 17th PBA title in team history and ended its four year title drought; it was also the first time in their last six championships that they've won a title with Danny Seigle as a non-factor in the playoffs. He was injured for almost the entire semi-finals and played only in Game 5 of the Finals. It was Jong Uichico's sixth PBA crown as coach.
After their performance a year ago, San Miguel was heavily favored in the 2005-06
Fiesta Conference to defend their crown. They added import Rico Hill to bolster the lineup along with former Shell Turbo Charger Chris Calaguio
.
But SMB's high expectations became a disappointment. The Beermen started off with a 0-4 record before winning a game against the Air21 Express in Aklan
. Hill was replaced by Kwan Johnson but the Beermen lost four more games to fall to 1-8. But the Beermen won the next five games; Johnson was suffering an injury and was temporarily replaced by Kevin Freeman. The Beermen finished with a 6-10 card and eighth place in the nine-team classification phase.
Johnson returned in time for San Miguel against ten-sister team Coca-Cola in the survivor round. The Beermen had a twice to beat edge, but the Tigers won the first encounter on January 6. A day later, Ildefonso's game-winner propelled the Beermen to the next round. In the Wildcard phase against the Express, they ended up losing in three games.
Before the start of the 2006 PBA Philippine Cup, San Miguel traded its veteran forward Nic Belasco
to the Alaska Aces for guard Brandon Cablay
. In a separate move, the Beermen acquired Wesley Gonzales
from the Air21 Express and shipped Eugene Tejada to sister team Purefoods. The Express was supposed to send Homer Se
to Purefoods but failed to pass his physical test, and was returned to the Air21 squad. The Cablay trade was seen as a preparation for the possible retirement of point guard Olsen Racela.
After a 1-2 start in the tournament, the Beermen won the next eight games before finishing with a 11-5 record. Their second place tally sent the Beermen to an outright semifinals berth, a huge improvement from their disappointing run in the Fiesta Conference. The Beermen's surge also saw Danny Seigle's numerous scoring outburst, norming 20 points in almost all of the games he played during the conference.
However, in the semifinals, they were upset by the Red Bull Barako in seven games. San Miguel won Games 2, 4 and the sixth game to level the matchup to a seventh game. However, in Game 7, the Beermen lost on a last second shot by Junthy Valenzuela
, eliminating them from the tournament. In a one-game matchup for third place, San Miguel lost to Alaska 102-95 to finish fourth in the 2006 Philippine Cup.
moved national team head coach Chot Reyes
to the Beermen as its head coach while sending Jong Uichico
to coach the Barangay Ginebra Kings
. In the 2006 PBA Rookie Draft, the Beermen selected LA Tenorio
(fourth overall pick) and Gabby Espinas
(fifth overall pick) in one of the rare incidents in which San Miguel drafted players from the rookie draft.
After a 0-3 start in the tournament plus the injuries of Seigle and Ildefonso, the Beermen received Rommel Adducul
and Lordy Tugade
from Ginebra and Red Bull, respectively, in a three-team trade. This led to San Miguel winning 13 of the next 15 games to finished with a 13-5 record and an outright semifinals berth.
In the semis, the Beermen defeated Red Bull in seven games that was highlighted by the physical encounters of both squad in the series which also involved Red Bull's head man Yeng Guiao
. In the Finals, after leading the series 2-0 the Beermen were beaten by the Barangay Ginebra Kings
in six games.
In the recent 2007 Fiesta Conference, Chot Reyes took a leave to form and coach the national basketball team for the FIBA Asia Championships. For a few games, Biboy Ravanes was hired as the team's interim coach but soon San Miguel faltered to a slow start.
Soon, former Ginebra head coach and assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen was moved to the Beermen to be its interim tactician. However, fortunes didn't change as they suffered to a horrible 0-6 start and later 2-8 after fielding imports Vidal Messiah and Paul McMillan.
But then, San Miguel soon won eight games with the arrival of the team's third import, former Alaska Ace Galen Young. SMB wound up with a 10-8 win-loss card to end the elimination round, only to lose to Alaska in the eliminations, and to Air21 in a knockout match for the second outright quarterfinals berth.
At this time, the Beermen shipped Rommel Adducul to Red Bull for prized center Enrico Villanueva
in a controversial trade which also involved sister team Purefoods, which snagged Adducul after trading reserve Don Camaso
.
SMB was relegated to the wild-card playoffs but beat Sta. Lucia in the first knockout game of the phase and then pulled off the first of what was dubbed as the "Beeracle Run" over Coca-Cola in which they came back from a four-point deficit with 12 seconds to go to advance against Ginebra in the quarters.
There, the Beermen exacted revenge on the Barangay Ginebra Kings by beating them in three full games. The Beermen entered the Fiesta Conference semifinals only to lose to Alaska in six hard fought games and placed fourth in a loss to Red Bull for the consolation third place trophy.
After 20 years of carrying the San Miguel name, the San Miguel Corporation radically changed the team name to Magnolia Beverage Masters starting the 2007-08 PBA season
.
Prior to the change, they named Tanquincen as its permanent coach while they acquired Larry Fonacier
from Red Bull. In the 2007 PBA Draft
, Samigue Eman
and Jonas Villanueva
were taken in the first round.
Former first over-all pick Mike Cortez
and Ken Bono
were dealt by Alaska for Beverage Masters LA Tenorio
and Larry Fonacier
in a blockbuster trade.
In what could be one of the biggest single-day trade in PBA history, Magnolia acquired Marc Pingris
from Purefoods in exchange for a future draft pick.
In the 2008 PBA Draft
, the team used its 3rd pick in the 1st round to select 5-foot-11 point guard Jason Castro, then traded Jason Castro to Talk 'N Text for the 6-foot-7 guard/forward Jay Washington
. They also drafted 5-foot-11 point guard Bonbon Custodio
using their 8th pick in the 1st round. They have also acquired 6-foot-9 center Mick Pennisi
from Red Bull in exchange for their 2010 1st round draft pick.
In the Philippine Cup the team managed to have the 6th seed and they managed to beat the Crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra Kings
but eventually lost to semifinals to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.
In their first game in the 2009 Fiesta Conference
they played without an import but managed to beat the Alaska Aces
, and with the Acquisition of Albany Patroons
Gabe Freeman
as their import they managed to win 8 consecutive games and had the best league record. And they gained an outright semis spot beating Burger King in 6 games as they march to the finals
to claim their 18th title by beating the Barangay Ginebra Kings in 7 crucial games.
from the Burger King in exchange for Marc Pingris
, Ken Bono
and a future draft pick. They drafted JRU stalwart James Sena in the recent annual draft. And lately, they received FEU standout Dennis Miranda
from the Sta. Lucia Realtors in replace for a future draft pick.
to Air 21 Express in exchange for Alex Cabagnot
.Then traded Bonbon Custodio
to Sta. Lucia Realtors
for Joseph Yeo
.
lost to Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup on February 4, 2011. This is the first finals stint of coach Ato Agustin
.
has finally closed a deal with the Air 21 Express with the approval of Commissioner Chito Salud
. On this trade, the Beermen shifted Paul Artadi
, Danny Seigle
, Cebuano Hot Shot Dondon Hontiveros
and Dorian Pena
to the Express in exchange for three draft rookie draft picks Nonoy Baclao
, Rabeh Al-Hussaini
and Rey Guevarra
. This trade is the revised proposed trade of the Beermen which initially involved Joseph Yeo
, Danny Seigle
and Mick Pennisi
in exchange for the said top rookie picks. This has not been aprroved by Commissioner Chito Salud until this revised trade came in.
After the trade, they were eliminated and finish 9th place with 2 wins and 7 losses(worst in the history of the franchise).
. In Game 2, they lost against the Texters in a score of 103-85.In Game 3, they lost against the Texters in a score of 132-105. In Game 4, they outscored the Texters 105-83. In Game 5, they won against the Texters in a score of 93-80. In Game 6, they lost against the Texters 104-78. In Game 7 they had won against the Texters 85-73 and won the championship despite absence of Jay Washington, Lordy Tugade, Joseph Yeo and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Ato Agustin is the 9th rookie coach to win a PBA Championship. Arwind Santos
was crowned as the Finals MVP.
from the Barako Bull. In exchange, Barako Bull received the services of #8 pick Allein Maliksi, Sunday Salvacion
, Mick Pennisi and future draft picks.
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...
. The team (known as the San Miguel Beermen for most of its existence) 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
Petron Corporation
Petron Corporation is the largest oil refining and marketing company in the Philippines, supplying more than a third of the country’s oil requirements....
, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
. Petron is one of three PBA ball clubs owned by SMC affiliates and subsidiaries. The two are the B-Meg Llamados 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...
.
History
San Miguel is one of the nine companies who broke away from the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic AssociationManila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association
The Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association is a defunct sports association which existed from 1938 to 1981. It is best known for its basketball league for amateur players....
in 1975 due to their dismay with the Basketball Association of the Philippines
Basketball Association of the Philippines
The Basketball Association of the Philippines was the International Basketball Federation recognized national governing body for basketball in the Philippines...
. This led to the formation of the first professional basketball league known as the Philippine Basketball Association
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...
.
MICAA days
Even at the very start, San Miguel Brewery had a team in the pre-war MICAA. And it was similar to the UAAP or the NCAA where basketball was one of the sports the employees played. There was MICAA competition for baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, football, among other games. But as always, it was basketball which became prominent.
A 1971 lineup was mentioned in this thread
San Miguel Braves
- 4 Belmonte
- 5 Worley Cuevas
- 6 Rolando Marcelo
- 7 Wilfredo Velasco
- 8 Orlando Castelo
- 9 Richard Palou
- 10 Alejandrito Miego
- 13 Manuel Paner
- 14 Rosalio Martirez
- 15 David Regullano
- 18 Ernesto Estrada
- 19 Ernesto Morales
- Coach: Ignacio "Ning" Ramos
For more on the fans account on the famed MICAA, Click here
Manny Paner, Rosalio Martirez, and David Regullano were all members of the 1973 squad that won the Asian Basketball Confederation Championships held in Manila. Regullano and Rogelio "Tembong" Melencio alternated in shackling the high-scoring Shin Dong Pa of South Korea.
Royal Tru-Orange
In their first PBA season1975 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...
, they were known as the Royal Tru-Orange, an orange juice soda of their parent company San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
under the Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
brand. Royal finished third place in all three conferences in 1975.
Royal was bannered by center Manny Paner, forward Estoy Estrada and point guard Yoyong Martirez. Both Paner and Estrada made it to the Mythical Team. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=778&st=10 In the import-laden Open Conference, they paraded the high-scoring Carl Bird.
Manny Paner and Estoy Estrada became free agents in 1977 and they later signed with Presto and Toyota, respectively. San Miguel signed shooter Valerio delos Santos and center Marte Samson to replace their departed stars in a cost-cutting move.
1979 was the time when the team had two imports of unlimited height playing together - these were 6'9 Otto Moore and 6'7 Larry Pounds. They faced Toyota in the finals of that best of five series which they won in four games. Moore and Pounds were backstopped by a crew made up of a lot of Visayan cagers like Tony Torrente, Yoyong Martirez, Jess Migalbin, Salvador Ramas, Melchor Ravanes plus a host of others like Rudy Lalota, Leo Paguntalan, ex-PSBA standout Ramon Dizon, and ex-UV
University of the Visayas
The ' is an educational institution located at Cebu City, Philippines. It is billed as the first university in Cebu City .- Campuses and location :...
Green Lancer Marlowe Jacutin. The team was coached by ironically, future Toyota coach Ed Ocampo.
The Royal Tru Orange was the second team in PBA history to break the Crispa-Toyota stranglehold as far as winning championships were concerned. The year before, in 1978
1978 PBA season
The 1978 PBA Season was the fourth season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*April 16, 1978: Opening Day, Toyota defeated Tanduay, 127-120, In the second game of the double-header, U/tex defeated Crispa, 103-94....
, UTex was the first team to do so when they beat Crispa for the title. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=778&view=findpost&p=205195
San Miguel Beermen
1982 PBA season
The 1982 PBA season was the eighth season of the Philippine Basketball Association . It was the very first season that the league implement the best-of-seven format in the Reinforced Filipino Conference which was the first tournament.-Champions:...
PBA Invitational tournament, defeating the 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 :...
in three games with Tommy Manotoc as head coach. Marte Saldaña won Rookie of the Year honors that year after coming over from the MICAA ranks. He complemented well with Best Import Award winner 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...
and was instrumental in San Miguel's second championship in the 1982 Invitationals against Crispa. Another Saldaña, Antero or Terry of Toyota was also favored to win the Rookie of the Year award but he instigated a free-for-all against the national team of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and by way of penalty, Terry Saldaña was taken out of the Rookie of the Year Award race. http://mypba.com/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=778&view=findpost&p=31524
After Manotoc left to coach Crispa for the 1983 season
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...
(which later resulted in a grand slam
Grand Slam (PBA)
The Grand Slam in the Philippine Basketball Association refers to a PBA team who has won all three conferences 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...
), San Miguel (was also known as Gold Eagle Beer) managed to win just one third place finish for the next two seasons. In 1985
1985 PBA season
The 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...
, Gold Eagle changed its name to Magnolia Quench Plus, a product of an SMC subsidiary, but despite the efforts of import Norman Black, Magnolia failed to enter the championship chase.
Disbandment and return
Magnolia folded after the 1985 season, this was due to the political climate that happened at the height of the first EDSA Revolution, which led to the ouster of Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
. Chairman Danding Cojuangco, a well-known Marcos crony fled the country.
Following its disbandment, the former Magnolia players were absorbed by a new PBA team in Alaska Milk
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...
for the 1986 season. But the San Miguel franchise emerged under the Magnolia Cheese banner during the final months of the season.
In 1985, the famed Northern Consolidated team won several international basketball tournaments with Samboy Lim
Samboy Lim
Avelino B. Lim, Jr. , better known as Samboy Lim, is a former basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. As a shooting guard, the iconic Lim distinguished himself with Magic Johnson-like ball handling skills and Julius "Dr...
, Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
and Hector Calma
Hector Calma
Hector Calma is a retired Filipino professional basketball player. At 5 feet and 6 inches, he played at the point guard position and was most notably associated with the San Miguel Beer team of the Philippine Basketball Association....
, including the PBA Reinforced Conference. The NCC team was funded by Cojuangco, but the program was halted a year later due to the change in government.
With Magnolia's return in the final months of 1986
1986 PBA season
The 1986 PBA season was the 12th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*Alaska Milk marked its first participation in the league...
, the team absorbed Lim, Calma, Franz Pumaren, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice, Alfie Almario, Pido Jarencio and Tonichi Yturri from the core of the NCC team but failing to qualify for the semi-finals. The start of 1987 PBA season
1987 PBA season
The 1987 PBA season was the 13th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Occurrences:*Manila Beer Brewmasters disbanded its franchise, reducing the membership to only 6 teams, their players were absorbed by the rest of the PBA ballclubs.*The PBA, in partnership with a newly-formed...
brought new hope for the team. Magnolia's prized catch, however, was former Crispa and Manila Beer stalwart Abet Guidaben
Abet Guidaben
Alberto "Abet" Guidaben is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player. He was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983...
. Import 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...
began his coaching career at this time. Ricardo Brown
Ricardo Brown
Ricardo Brown is a Cuban-born television journalist who lives in Miami, Florida.Currently, he hosts El Factor Brown, a nightly news commentary hourly show broadcast by WGEN-TV, Channel 8, in Miami....
was also added to the squad after acquiring the former MVP from Great Taste.
Magnolia finished third in the Open and All-Filipino Conferences. By the Reinforced tournament, the team reverted back to its old name San Miguel Beer. While the Beermen would later wear their traditional red and white jerseys, they wore a green and white color during the conference.
With Bobby Parks
Bobby Parks
Bobby Ray Parks is an American professional basketball player from Grand Junction, Tennessee. He played for Memphis State University during the 1980s and played internationally in France and the Philippines...
as import, San Miguel was able to win the conference and the franchise's first in five years defeating the Hills Bros. Coffeemakers, led by the Bruise Brothers Yoyoy Villamin and Ricky Relosa, in five games.
Guidaben was named season MVP
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
but not without controversy. Many people thought that Villamin was more deserving than Guidaben.
Grand Slam era
San Miguel continued its winning ways in the 1988 PBA season1988 PBA season
The 1988 PBA season was the 14th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable Events:*After Tanduay filed a leave of absence, some remnants were absorbed, along with several amateur prospects by Purefoods Corporation....
season by winning the Open Conference that year. After placing fourth in the next conference, San Miguel traded Guidaben to Purefoods for Ramon Fernandez
Ramón Fernández
Ramon S. Fernandez is generally regarded as the greatest basketball player produced by the Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships bagged...
. The trade was executed in the height of a disagreement between Fernandez and the Purefoods management.
With Fernandez, the Beermen regained another championship by defeating the Shell Rimula-X
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...
in the finals of the Reinforced Conference. Fernandez won his fourth and last Most Valuable Player Award
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
.
In 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 began one of the greatest seasons in league history. The Beermen defeated 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...
led by Benjie Paras
Benjie Paras
Venancio Johnson Paras, Jr. , better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association turned actor. He is the only PBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors, in a single season...
and Ronnie Magsanoc
Ronnie Magsanoc
Ronald "Ronnie" Magsanoc is a former Filipino professional basketball point guard. He was the former assistant coach of the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and a color commentator for the television coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association...
in the Open Conference, 4-1. In the All-Filipino Conference, San Miguel defeated a young but hungry Purefoods team in six games. At season's end, San Miguel completed the PBA's third grand slam
Grand Slam (PBA)
The Grand Slam in the Philippine Basketball Association refers to a PBA team who has won all three conferences 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...
by trouncing Robert Jaworski
Robert Jaworski
Robert Salazar Jaworski , also known as Sonny Jaworski, Bobby Jaworski, Robert Jaworski, Sr. or simply Jawo, is a former Philippine senator, basketball coach and Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association and PBA basketball player.Known as The Big J and called The Living Legend...
's Anejo Rhum 65
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 five games with the enlistment of quality import and former Chicago Bull Ennis Whatley.
At the time, San Miguel joined Crispa
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 :...
(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:...
, 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...
) as the only squads to win the coveted grand slam.
"El Presidente" was a prime candidate to win his fifth MVP, but Fernandez was denied by Paras, who became the first and still the only player to win the Rookie of the Year
Philippine Basketball Association Rookie of the Year award
-List of awardees:...
and Most Valuable Player awards
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
in the same season. He was however, hailed the MVP by the Philippine Sports Press Corps.
Early 1990s
San Miguel went titleless for the next two seasons, but in 19921992 PBA season
The 1992 PBA season was the 18th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud, stepped down from his post, after four successful years of guiding the league at its highest level, PBA chairman Rey Marquez succeeded Atty.Salud as the new PBA...
, San Miguel defeated Purefoods in seven games to capture the All-Filipino Cup. Ato Agustin became a star on the San Miguel lineup winning the Most Valuable Player Award
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
. However, some believed that Swift's
Pop Cola Panthers
The 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...
Nelson Asaytono could have won it.
Following Presto's (formerly Great Taste) disbandment in 1993
1993 PBA season
The 1993 PBA season was the 19th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable events:*The league moves to its new home, the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.*The league unveils their new logo during the opening ceremonies.*Sta...
, San Miguel acquired shooter Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
. The trio of Agustin, Samboy Lim and Caidic in 1993 proved to be the peak of San Miguel's backcourt strength. It was during this time that San Miguel's back court became the yard stick of all PBA teams.
San Miguel won the Governor's Cup crown with Kenny Travis as import. At this time, it was the Beermen's 10th PBA title, surpassing Toyota for second on the all-time list.
1994 Asian Games
In 19941994 PBA season
The 1994 PBA season was the 20th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Season Highlights:The San Miguel Beermen won the All-Filipino championship over Coney Island and represented the country in the 1994 Asian Games. Amateur standouts Marlou Aquino and Kenneth Duremdes join the RP-San...
, the league announced that the winner of the All-Filipino Cup would represent the Philippines
Philippines national basketball team
The men's national basketball team of the Philippines represents the Philippines in international basketball competitions. It is managed by its national basketball federation, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
in the 1994 Asian Games
1994 Asian Games
The 1994 Asian Games also known as XII Asiad were held from October 2 to October 16, 1994 in Hiroshima, Japan. The main theme of this edition was to promote peace and harmony among Asian nations. It was emphasized by the host because the venue was the site of the first atomic bomb attack in...
in Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. San Miguel faced Coney Island for the championship, which the Beermen won 4-2. However, with several key San Miguel players suffering from multiple injuries, the team had no choice but to add several players from other PBA teams and in the amateur ranks.
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Vergara Patrimonio , nicknamed "The Captain" and "Captain Lionheart" is a retired Filipino professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager of his former team, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.Patrimonio holds several PBA records...
, Jerry Codiñera
Jerry Codiñera
Jerry Codiñera is a retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is nicknamed the "Defense Minister" for his prowess at the defensive end. He is also a member of the 25 Best Players of all Time of PBA and Philippine men's national basketball team of the 1994...
, Rey Evangelista, and Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA MVP, becoming the shortest player to win the league's highest individual award.He is known by many...
from the pros and then-amateurs Marlou Aquino
Marlou Aquino
Marlou B. Aquino is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who last played for the Meralco Bolts. Known by his moniker The Skyscraper, he is also known, along with Dennis Espino, as one-half of the so-called Twin Towers of the disbanded Sta...
and Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Duremdes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers...
were among those added to the mix. At one point, San Miguel wore the national team colors during the Commissioner's Cup, only to lose to Swift for third place.
At the Asian Games, the SMB-led national team failed to bag a single medal by ending up in fourth place behind China
China national basketball team
The Chinese men's national basketball team is the basketball team representing China in international competitions. The governing body of Chinese basketball operations is the Basketball Association of China...
, Korea, and Japan
Japan national basketball team
The Japanese national basketball team represents Japan in international basketball competitions. It is governed by the Japan Basketball Association . Japan is the second leading nation in qualifications to the Asian Basketball Championships...
. However, Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
was the Asian Games basketball tournament leading scorer and was named in the Asiad All-Star Mythical Five Team.
After the season, Fernandez announced his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
from the PBA after a stellar 20 season career that spanned three decades and also long time guard Hector Calma retired due to injuries.
In 1995
1995 PBA season
The 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....
, San Miguel was struggling to maintain its ranks as among the best teams in the league with Sunkist and Alaska
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...
dominating at the time. All superstars Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
, Samboy Lim
Samboy Lim
Avelino B. Lim, Jr. , better known as Samboy Lim, is a former basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. As a shooting guard, the iconic Lim distinguished himself with Magic Johnson-like ball handling skills and Julius "Dr...
, Ato Agustin
Ato Agustin
Renato Agustin , better known as Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. He played college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines, before moving on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association.Agustin is a former Most Valuable...
are injured and to cover the scoring gap Alvin Teng was traded to Seven Up for Gido Babilonia and Victor Pablo after All Filipino Conference. Acquired Freddie Abuda from purefoods, drafted Lou Regidor, Mike Mustre, Matt Makalintal, Gilbert Castillo and Bryant Punzalan. Though the beermen didn't prosper on first two conferences but in Governor's Conference with Kenny Travis back as import San Miguel broke Sunkist's dream of a grandslam by entering the finals of the Governor's Cup, only to lose to Alaska in a seven game showdown.
Mid-1990s decline
San Miguel's struggles would continue in 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...
, the team finished third in the All-Filipino while nabbing fourth in the season-ending Governor's Cup. Early in the year, San Miguel traded Ato Agustin to Sunkist for known-scorer Nelson Asaytono and traded Victor Pablo to Shell for Paul "Mr. Excitement" Alvarez. The third conference saw the arrival of Lamont Strothers to the PBA. After the season, 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...
left the team and became the head coach of Mobiline. Replacing him was former NCC coach Ron Jacobs.
Before the 1997
1997 PBA season
The 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...
season began, controversy surrounded the hiring of Ron Jacobs, due to objections by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP). The BCAP believed that it endangered the chance of local coaches to enter the PBA. But, Jacobs remained coach of San Miguel for the league's 23rd season. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/9225/970301c.html&date=2009-10-25+07:06:03
With San Miguel in a sort of a rebuilding mode, Jacobs was able to mold young players like Olsen Racela
Olsen Racela
, better known as , is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is also a part time analyst, assistant coach of the Petron Blaze Boosters, and the current head coach of the Philippines under-16 basketball team. He is considered the best point...
who was acquired from Purefoods, Mike Mustre as well as veterans Asaytono, "Mr. Excitement" Bong Alvarez, Dignadice and Art dela Cruz into a strong team each conference. San Miguel won third place in all three conferences of the '97 campaign. The Beermen failed to enter the finals in the Commissioner's and Governor's Cups, respectively, losing in two do-or-die games against Gordon's Gin
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...
and Purefoods. Jeff Ward was the import during the second conference while Larry Robinson played for SMB in the third conference.
Asaytono was a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
but lost to Purefoods' Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Vergara Patrimonio , nicknamed "The Captain" and "Captain Lionheart" is a retired Filipino professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager of his former team, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.Patrimonio holds several PBA records...
.
In 1998
1998 PBA season
The 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...
, San Miguel drafted Noy Castillo as the second overall pick in the draft. But, Castillo was quickly shipped to 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...
in exchange for National University
National University (Philippines)
National University is a university in Manila, Philippines.It is a founding member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and is a pioneer of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities...
standout Danny Ildefonso
Danny Ildefonso
Danilo Ildefonso is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed Danny I and The Demolition Man, Ildefonso is a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player in 2000 and 2001...
.
The Beermen made a strong showing in the All-Filipino Conference but lost to Alaska
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...
in the Finals in seven games. In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel brought back Strothers to replace Jeff Ward during the tournament. SMB made its return to the finals but was defeated by the Milkmen in the rematch of the All-Filipino Cup, this time in six games.
After the conference, Racela was loaned to the PBA Centennial team. As incentive, all PBA teams were allowed to hire two imports in the Governor's Cup. Strothers and Robinson teamed up for San Miguel, but with their height disadvantage against other teams, the Beermen failed to either win the special Centennial Cup or the season-ending Governor's Cup.
Ron Jacobs resigned after two seasons with the Beermen. His assistant coach and former NCC protégé Jong Uichico
Jong Uichico
Joseph Enrique Uichico, better known as Jong Uichico, is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. Uichico is a former Philippines national basketball team Youth member and a former player and head coach of the La Salle...
took over as head coach.
Jong Uichico era
| San Miguel Beermen | |
|---|---|
| Uniforms | |
New coach Jong Uichico began his first season with San Miguel in 1999
1999 PBA season
The 1999 PBA season was the 25th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*The league transferred from the Cuneta Astrodome to the PhilSports Arena as their main playing venue....
. As part of the PBA's new rule to allow each team one direct-hire Filipino-foreigner, San Miguel acquired the services of Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
, younger brother of then Mobiline center Andy Seigle
Andy Seigle
Andrew John Seigle is a retired Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a member of the Philippine national basketball team. He is the brother of Danny Seigle, also a basketball player in the same league...
, to bolster the team along with former Pop Cola
Pop Cola Panthers
The 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...
guard Boybits Victoria.
However, San Miguel struggled in the All-Filipino Cup and was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Formula 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...
. One of their finest moments was during a match against Mobiline and star center Asi Taulava
Asi Taulava
Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association....
. San Miguel's 67-66 squeaker on Asaytono's two clutch free-throws handed the Phone Pals its first defeat after winning their first seven games.
In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel tapped former Mobiline import Terquin Mott. Mott, a known temperamental player during his first stint in the league, molded well with his local teammates as San Miguel was able to make a strong showing in the elimination round. San Miguel also parted way with Asaytono, shipping him to Pop Cola
Pop Cola Panthers
The 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...
for Nic Belasco
Nic Belasco
Nicholas Belasco better known as Nic Belasco, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who last played for the Sta. Lucia Realtors. He was drafted 2nd overall by Sunkist in 1997.-Player Profile:Belasco is one of the many reliable big men in the league...
and Dwight Lago. The Beermen upset the defending champion 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...
in the semis to enter the Finals against All-Filipino winner Formula Shell with Benjie Paras
Benjie Paras
Venancio Johnson Paras, Jr. , better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association turned actor. He is the only PBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors, in a single season...
and import John Best. San Miguel won the first two games of the series before Shell tied the series at 2-2. But the Beermen won the last two games to win their 12th PBA crown and their first in five years.
In the Governor's Cup, San Miguel brought back Strothers as the Beermen cruised into the Finals of the said tournament against Alaska. The Milkmen even led the series at 2-1 but San Miguel was able to win the last three games to win their second straight championship in six games.
Seigle was named as the Rookie of the Year at season's end and also threatened to beat Paras for the MVP plum, but the "Tower of Power" won the 1999 MVP award.
San Miguel failed to win the 2000
2000 PBA season
The 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....
All-Filipino Cup by finishing fourth in the tournament. The Beermen, however, defended the Commissioner's Cup trophy, with NBA veteran Stephen Howard
Stephen Howard
Stephen Howard may refer to:*Stephen Howard , US athlete in professional basketball*Stephen Howard , Australian athlete in cricket*Stephen Goodwin Howard , English politician-See also:...
on the lineup, defeating Sta. Lucia
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
. In the Governor's Cup, with Strothers back, they defeated Purefoods in five games for their 15th PBA title. Danny Ildefonso
Danny Ildefonso
Danilo Ildefonso is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed Danny I and The Demolition Man, Ildefonso is a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player in 2000 and 2001...
won his first Most Valuable Player Award
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
at the end of the season.
In 2001
2001 PBA season
The 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...
, they were favorites to win the All-Filipino Cup and San Miguel did so to enter the finals against sister team Barangay Ginebra and prized rookie Mark Caguioa
Mark Caguioa
Mark Anthony Abaño Caguioa is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who plays for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
. After the series was tied at 2-2, SMB survived in overtime to win Game Five and blew out the Kings in Game Six to capture their first All-Filipino title in seven years.
San Miguel was now favored to win the grand slam, but the young Batang Red Bull Thunder upset SMB in the finals of the Commissioner's Cup in six games while the Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
, behind former SMB mentor 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...
defeated his former club 4-2 in the season-ending Governor's Cup.
Ildefonso, meanwhile won his second consecutive MVP
Philippine Basketball Association Most Valuable Player award
The Philippine Basketball Association awards the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season. The winner is selected via votes from the press, players, coaches and top PBA officials....
in 2001. Some observers though believed that it was Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
who deserved to win the award.
Ildefonso, Racela, newly-acquired Dondon Hontiveros
Dondon Hontiveros
Donaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros is a Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He has a son named Isaiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.A devout Christian, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball...
, Seigle and coach Jong Uichico concentrated their time with the RP National team in the 2002 season
2002 PBA season
-Notable occurrences:*The Tanduay Rhum Masters left the league after three seasons. Their franchise was taken over by the FedEx Express.*Republic Flour Mills sold its subsidiary COSMOS Bottlers Corporation to food company giant San Miguel Corporation. The move also absorbed the Pop Cola Panthers,...
. Meanwhile, San Miguel was left with only Dorian Peña
Dorian Peña
Dorian Alan Peña is a Filipino-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed the "Junkyard Dawg" for his consistent plays of putbacks and offensive rebounds...
and Boybits Victoria on the team. San Miguel fielded in Strothers and later former NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
veteran Mario Bennett for the Governor's Cup. After the Beermen finished eighth in the elimination round, SMB upset the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in the quarterfinals but was eliminated by Alaska in the semi-finals and finished fourth in the tournament. Strothers announced his retirement after the tournament.
In the Commissioner's Cup, San Miguel took Shea Seals and Art Long as import. But the temperamental Long got into a dirty scuffle with Red Bull import Antonio Lang during a game despite San Miguel finishing fourth after the elimination phase. Terquin Mott replaced Long before the end of the eliminations. After eliminating Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Tigers
The Powerade Tigers is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2002 when the then-San Miguel Corporation-owned Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines bought the RFM-owned Cosmos Bottling Corporation. In 2006, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company under the Coca-Cola...
in the quarters, Red Bull eliminated them in the semis before finishing third.
In the All-Filipino, San Miguel was decimated by Danny Seigle's injury with the national team. Racela, Ildefonso and Hontiveros returned for San Miguel but they were eliminated by Coca-Cola in the semis to finished third for the second-straight conference.
San Miguel returned in the 2003
2003 PBA season
The 2003 PBA Season was the 29th season of the Philippine Basketball Association .-Notable occurrences:*The NBN/IBC consortium took over the league's TV coverage after winning the TV rights over the league's longtime TV partner Vintage Television in December 2002.*Noli Eala became the league's...
on a bright note. After the elimination round of the All-Filipino, they finished first in Group A to qualify for the quarterfinals phase of the tournament. But the Beermen failed to enter the semis after finishing 1-2 in the single-round robin format. Their great finish in the All-Filipino helped the Beermen qualify for the Invitational tournament, but San Miguel failed to advance to the semis.
In the first Reinforced Conference in more than a decade, San Miguel fielded in several lemon imports before settling on former Sta. Lucia import Kwan Johnson. After a 0-5 start, San Miguel went 10-3 the rest of the way to enter the Finals, but lost in seven games to the Coca-Cola Tigers
Coca-Cola Tigers
The Powerade Tigers is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 2002 when the then-San Miguel Corporation-owned Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines bought the RFM-owned Cosmos Bottling Corporation. In 2006, the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company under the Coca-Cola...
.
17th title
San Miguel was once again favorites to win championships in the 2004-052004-05 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. Art Long made his return as import for San Miguel in the 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....
, a transition tournament. Long and the Beermen powered its way to a 9-0 start before finishing the tournament in first place after the eliminations. But once again, San Miguel failed to enter the semis after a 1-2 record in the quarterfinals.
In the 2004-2005 Philippine Cup (formerly the All-Filipino Cup), the Beermen finished the classification phase with an even 9-9 record. In the quarterfinals, San Miguel swept the Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
in a three-game series. Then, the Beermen also swept Alaska
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...
in the quarterfinals. In the semis against sister rival Barangay 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...
, the Beermen took a 2-1 series in the best-of-five affair but the Kings won the next two games to win the series, that capped with Rodney Santos
Rodney Santos
John Rodney Santos is a Filipino professional basketball player. He most recently played with the Coca-Cola Tigers. He is also known as "The Slasher" for his slashing ability going to the basket....
' game-winner in the deciding game. The Beermen then beat Shell to cop third-place in the tournament.
Chris Burgess was San Miguel's import for the 2005 Fiesta Conference. San Miguel finished the classification phase in second place to gain an outright semi-finals berth. Midway to the semis, Burgess was replaced by Ace Custis and became an effective replacement for San Miguel. The Beermen eliminated Red Bull in the semi-finals to enter the Finals against the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. The Beermen defeated the Phone Pals 4-1 to give the team its 17th PBA title in team history and ended its four year title drought; it was also the first time in their last six championships that they've won a title with Danny Seigle as a non-factor in the playoffs. He was injured for almost the entire semi-finals and played only in Game 5 of the Finals. It was Jong Uichico's sixth PBA crown as coach.
After their performance a year ago, San Miguel was heavily favored in the 2005-06
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...
Fiesta Conference to defend their crown. They added import Rico Hill to bolster the lineup along with former Shell Turbo Charger Chris Calaguio
Chris Calaguio
Christian Jay Calaguio is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the San Miguel Beermen in the Philippine Basketball Association. Former San Beda Red Cub cager, was one of the star players of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights during his college days in the National...
.
But SMB's high expectations became a disappointment. The Beermen started off with a 0-4 record before winning a game against the Air21 Express in Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
. Hill was replaced by Kwan Johnson but the Beermen lost four more games to fall to 1-8. But the Beermen won the next five games; Johnson was suffering an injury and was temporarily replaced by Kevin Freeman. The Beermen finished with a 6-10 card and eighth place in the nine-team classification phase.
Johnson returned in time for San Miguel against ten-sister team Coca-Cola in the survivor round. The Beermen had a twice to beat edge, but the Tigers won the first encounter on January 6. A day later, Ildefonso's game-winner propelled the Beermen to the next round. In the Wildcard phase against the Express, they ended up losing in three games.
Before the start of the 2006 PBA Philippine Cup, San Miguel traded its veteran forward Nic Belasco
Nic Belasco
Nicholas Belasco better known as Nic Belasco, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who last played for the Sta. Lucia Realtors. He was drafted 2nd overall by Sunkist in 1997.-Player Profile:Belasco is one of the many reliable big men in the league...
to the Alaska Aces for guard Brandon Cablay
Brandon Cablay
Brandon Lee Kaui Cablay is a Filipino- American professional basketball player currently playing for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association. He started his career in the PBA in 2003 as a member of the Alaska Aces. He won his first PBA championship in the 2003 PBA Invitational...
. In a separate move, the Beermen acquired Wesley Gonzales
Wesley Gonzales
Wesley O. Gonzales is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.-Player Profile:...
from the Air21 Express and shipped Eugene Tejada to sister team Purefoods. The Express was supposed to send Homer Se
Homer Se
Homer Se is a Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He was born on May 5, 1987 at Albay, Bicol, Philippines. He currently plays for the Shopinas.com Clickers.-Player Profile:...
to Purefoods but failed to pass his physical test, and was returned to the Air21 squad. The Cablay trade was seen as a preparation for the possible retirement of point guard Olsen Racela.
After a 1-2 start in the tournament, the Beermen won the next eight games before finishing with a 11-5 record. Their second place tally sent the Beermen to an outright semifinals berth, a huge improvement from their disappointing run in the Fiesta Conference. The Beermen's surge also saw Danny Seigle's numerous scoring outburst, norming 20 points in almost all of the games he played during the conference.
However, in the semifinals, they were upset by the Red Bull Barako in seven games. San Miguel won Games 2, 4 and the sixth game to level the matchup to a seventh game. However, in Game 7, the Beermen lost on a last second shot by Junthy Valenzuela
Junthy Valenzuela
Junthy Valenzuela is a Filipino basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association, a former Red Bull Barako player who last played for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
, eliminating them from the tournament. In a one-game matchup for third place, San Miguel lost to Alaska 102-95 to finish fourth in the 2006 Philippine Cup.
Chot Reyes and Siot Tanquingcen
In the offseason, the San Miguel CorporationSan Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
moved national team head coach Chot Reyes
Chot Reyes
Vincent P. Reyes , better known as Chot Reyes, is a Filipino basketball head coach of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
to the Beermen as its head coach while sending Jong Uichico
Jong Uichico
Joseph Enrique Uichico, better known as Jong Uichico, is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. Uichico is a former Philippines national basketball team Youth member and a former player and head coach of the La Salle...
to coach 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 2006 PBA Rookie Draft, the Beermen selected LA Tenorio
LA Tenorio
Lewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
(fourth overall pick) and Gabby Espinas
Gabby Espinas
Gabriel Espinas is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was born of an African-American father, who was once stationed in Subic but died when Gabby was only five years old, and a Filipina mother...
(fifth overall pick) in one of the rare incidents in which San Miguel drafted players from the rookie draft.
After a 0-3 start in the tournament plus the injuries of Seigle and Ildefonso, the Beermen received Rommel Adducul
Rommel Adducul
Romel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
and Lordy Tugade
Lordy Tugade
Lordy Tugade is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays and recently signed by the Petron Blaze Boosters....
from Ginebra and Red Bull, respectively, in a three-team trade. This led to San Miguel winning 13 of the next 15 games to finished with a 13-5 record and an outright semifinals berth.
In the semis, the Beermen defeated Red Bull in seven games that was highlighted by the physical encounters of both squad in the series which also involved Red Bull's head man Yeng Guiao
Yeng Guiao
Joseller "Yeng" Guiao is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also the head coach of the Philippine National Basketball Team. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in...
. In the Finals, after leading the series 2-0 the Beermen were beaten by 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 six games.
In the recent 2007 Fiesta Conference, Chot Reyes took a leave to form and coach the national basketball team for the FIBA Asia Championships. For a few games, Biboy Ravanes was hired as the team's interim coach but soon San Miguel faltered to a slow start.
Soon, former Ginebra head coach and assistant coach Siot Tanquingcen was moved to the Beermen to be its interim tactician. However, fortunes didn't change as they suffered to a horrible 0-6 start and later 2-8 after fielding imports Vidal Messiah and Paul McMillan.
But then, San Miguel soon won eight games with the arrival of the team's third import, former Alaska Ace Galen Young. SMB wound up with a 10-8 win-loss card to end the elimination round, only to lose to Alaska in the eliminations, and to Air21 in a knockout match for the second outright quarterfinals berth.
At this time, the Beermen shipped Rommel Adducul to Red Bull for prized center Enrico Villanueva
Enrico Villanueva
Jose Enrico P. Villanueva , better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association...
in a controversial trade which also involved sister team Purefoods, which snagged Adducul after trading reserve Don Camaso
Don Camaso
Celedon Camaso better known as Don Camaso is a professional basketball player in the Asean Basketball League currently playing as an import for the Satria Muda BritAma. He previously played for numerous teams in the Philippine Basketball Association, the most recent being Red Bull Barako...
.
SMB was relegated to the wild-card playoffs but beat Sta. Lucia in the first knockout game of the phase and then pulled off the first of what was dubbed as the "Beeracle Run" over Coca-Cola in which they came back from a four-point deficit with 12 seconds to go to advance against Ginebra in the quarters.
There, the Beermen exacted revenge on the Barangay Ginebra Kings by beating them in three full games. The Beermen entered the Fiesta Conference semifinals only to lose to Alaska in six hard fought games and placed fourth in a loss to Red Bull for the consolation third place trophy.
Magnolia Beverage Masters
| Magnolia Beverage Masters | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Uniforms | |
After 20 years of carrying the San Miguel name, the San Miguel Corporation radically changed the team name to Magnolia Beverage Masters starting the 2007-08 PBA season
2007-08 PBA season
The 2007-08 PBA Season was the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season was formally opened on October 14, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum...
.
Prior to the change, they named Tanquincen as its permanent coach while they acquired Larry Fonacier
Larry Fonacier
Larry Alexander N. Fonacier is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters...
from Red Bull. In the 2007 PBA Draft
2007 PBA Draft
The 2007 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which will allow teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 19, 2007...
, Samigue Eman
Samigue Eman
Samigue Eman is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.Eman was the 2nd overall draft pick of the Magnolia Beverage Masters in 2007...
and Jonas Villanueva
Jonas Villanueva
Jonas Villanueva is a Filipino professional basketball player currently on the inactive list of the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association due to an injury...
were taken in the first round.
Former first over-all pick Mike Cortez
Mike Cortez
Mike Cortez is a professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP and the ICTSI Archers in the Philippine Basketball League...
and Ken Bono
Ken Bono
Karl Kenneth O. Bono , better known as Ken Bono, is a Filipino basketball player, selected sixth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA Draft...
were dealt by Alaska for Beverage Masters LA Tenorio
LA Tenorio
Lewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
and Larry Fonacier
Larry Fonacier
Larry Alexander N. Fonacier is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters...
in a blockbuster trade.
In what could be one of the biggest single-day trade in PBA history, Magnolia acquired Marc Pingris
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
from Purefoods in exchange for a future draft pick.
2008-09 season (Return to Glory)
In 2008, the team again reverted to its old name, San Miguel Beermen.In the 2008 PBA Draft
2008 PBA Draft
The 2008 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which will allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event is set to be held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 31, 2008. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters selected Gabe Norwood of the George Mason...
, the team used its 3rd pick in the 1st round to select 5-foot-11 point guard Jason Castro, then traded Jason Castro to Talk 'N Text for the 6-foot-7 guard/forward Jay Washington
Jay Washington
Anthony Jay Washington, better known as Jay Washington is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Petron Blaze Boosters.-College:...
. They also drafted 5-foot-11 point guard Bonbon Custodio
Bonbon Custodio
Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio (born November 30, 1982 in Leyte, Philippines, is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball...
using their 8th pick in the 1st round. They have also acquired 6-foot-9 center Mick Pennisi
Mick Pennisi
Michael Alfio Pennisi , better known as Mick Pennisi, is a Filipino-Australian professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy. He was automatically hired by Red Bull in 2000...
from Red Bull in exchange for their 2010 1st round draft pick.
In the Philippine Cup the team managed to have the 6th seed and they managed to beat the Crowd favorite 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...
but eventually lost to semifinals to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.
In their first game in the 2009 Fiesta Conference
2009 PBA Fiesta Conference
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference or known as the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, is the last conference of the 2008-09 PBA season. It started on February 28 and finished on July 17...
they played without an import but managed to beat the Alaska Aces
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...
, and with the Acquisition of Albany Patroons
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
Gabe Freeman
Gabe Freeman
Gabriel Freeman is an American professional basketball player who plays for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada...
as their import they managed to win 8 consecutive games and had the best league record. And they gained an outright semis spot beating Burger King in 6 games as they march to the finals
2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
The 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals is the championship best-of-7 series of the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The series is a best of seven affair and is the 98th championship disputed in the league...
to claim their 18th title by beating the Barangay Ginebra Kings in 7 crucial games.
PBA 2009-2010 Season
If the San Miguel Beermen was a powerhouse team last season, the team got more formidable and fierce with their new acquisition of players for the upcoming season. They acquired Arwind SantosArwind Santos
Arwind Santos is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He also played college hoops at Far Eastern University in the UAAP and the Magnolia Ice Cream Spinners in the Philippine Basketball League...
from the Burger King in exchange for Marc Pingris
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
, Ken Bono
Ken Bono
Karl Kenneth O. Bono , better known as Ken Bono, is a Filipino basketball player, selected sixth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA Draft...
and a future draft pick. They drafted JRU stalwart James Sena in the recent annual draft. And lately, they received FEU standout Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda also known as Denok Miranda is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
from the Sta. Lucia Realtors in replace for a future draft pick.
2009-2010 Playoffs
The Beermen clinch the 1st outright semis slot but they lost to their sister team the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in 6 games (4-2). They top the Kings for the Battle for 3rd place.2010 Fiesta Conference
In preparation for the coming Fiesta Conference, the Beermen took a shake on their roster. They traded Mike CortezMike Cortez
Mike Cortez is a professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP and the ICTSI Archers in the Philippine Basketball League...
to Air 21 Express in exchange for Alex Cabagnot
Alex Cabagnot
Alex Cabagnot is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He plays the point guard position. Alex once had a rivalry with Mark Caguioa for of the Eagle Rock High School scoring record.-About the player:He was drafted by the Sta...
.Then traded Bonbon Custodio
Bonbon Custodio
Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio Bonifacio Custodio, better known simply as Bonbon Custodio (born November 30, 1982 in Leyte, Philippines, is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball...
to Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
for Joseph Yeo
Joseph Yeo
Joseph Henry L. Yeo , better known as Joseph Yeo, is a Filipino-Chinese professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
.
2010-2011 Philippine Cup
The San Miguel BeermenSan 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...
lost to Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup on February 4, 2011. This is the first finals stint of coach Ato Agustin
Ato Agustin
Renato Agustin , better known as Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. He played college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines, before moving on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association.Agustin is a former Most Valuable...
.
2011 Commissioner's Cup
On March 2, 2011, the San Miguel BeermenSan 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...
has finally closed a deal with the Air 21 Express with the approval of Commissioner Chito Salud
Chito Salud
Angelico T. Salud, better known as Chito Salud is the eight and current commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is the son of Rudy Salud, who was also a commissioner of the PBA from 1988 to 1992....
. On this trade, the Beermen shifted Paul Artadi
Paul Artadi
Paul Anthony Dy Artadi is a professional Filipino basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
, Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
, Cebuano Hot Shot Dondon Hontiveros
Dondon Hontiveros
Donaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros is a Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He has a son named Isaiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.A devout Christian, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball...
and Dorian Pena
Dorian Peña
Dorian Alan Peña is a Filipino-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed the "Junkyard Dawg" for his consistent plays of putbacks and offensive rebounds...
to the Express in exchange for three draft rookie draft picks Nonoy Baclao
Nonoy Baclao
Siverino A. Baclao, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Rabeh Al-Hussaini
Rabeh Al-Hussaini
Rabeh Ahmed Al-Hussaini is a Filipino professional basketball player who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
and Rey Guevarra
Rey Guevarra
Rey Francis Guevarra is Filipino basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
. This trade is the revised proposed trade of the Beermen which initially involved Joseph Yeo
Joseph Yeo
Joseph Henry L. Yeo , better known as Joseph Yeo, is a Filipino-Chinese professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
, Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
and Mick Pennisi
Mick Pennisi
Michael Alfio Pennisi , better known as Mick Pennisi, is a Filipino-Australian professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Barako Bull Energy. He was automatically hired by Red Bull in 2000...
in exchange for the said top rookie picks. This has not been aprroved by Commissioner Chito Salud until this revised trade came in.
After the trade, they were eliminated and finish 9th place with 2 wins and 7 losses(worst in the history of the franchise).
2011 PBA Governor's Cup and PBA Champion
The San Miguel Beermen franchise changed their team name into Petron Blaze Boosters. After a bad record last conference, they had reached the PBA finals and they battle against the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters. Even though they had several injured players, they had defeated Talk 'N Text in Game 1, 89-88 in a buzzer beater shot made by Danny IldefonsoDanny Ildefonso
Danilo Ildefonso is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. Nicknamed Danny I and The Demolition Man, Ildefonso is a two-time PBA Most Valuable Player in 2000 and 2001...
. In Game 2, they lost against the Texters in a score of 103-85.In Game 3, they lost against the Texters in a score of 132-105. In Game 4, they outscored the Texters 105-83. In Game 5, they won against the Texters in a score of 93-80. In Game 6, they lost against the Texters 104-78. In Game 7 they had won against the Texters 85-73 and won the championship despite absence of Jay Washington, Lordy Tugade, Joseph Yeo and Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Ato Agustin is the 9th rookie coach to win a PBA Championship. Arwind Santos
Arwind Santos
Arwind Santos is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He also played college hoops at Far Eastern University in the UAAP and the Magnolia Ice Cream Spinners in the Philippine Basketball League...
was crowned as the Finals MVP.
2011 PBA Annual Draft
The Petron Blaze Boosters made some changes in their line-up, the boosters acquired #3 pick Chris Lutz together with Dondon Hontiveros and Carlo SharmaCarlo Sharma
Ram Carlo Sharma is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He was drafted by Shell twelfth overall in 2004....
from the Barako Bull. In exchange, Barako Bull received the services of #8 pick Allein Maliksi, Sunday Salvacion
Sunday Salvacion
Sunday Salvacion is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association currently playing for the Barako Bull Energy...
, Mick Pennisi and future draft picks.
Season-by-season records
- Records from the 2010–11 PBA season:
*one-game playoffsConf. |Team name | Elimination round | Playoffs Finish |W |L |PCT |Stage |Results PHI 2010–11 PBA Philippine Cup-San Miguel vs. Air21:-B-Meg Derby Ace-Meralco series:-Barangay Ginebra-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-B-Meg Derby Ace series:-San Miguel-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:-Conference records:-Team:-Individual:-Conference:...
San Miguel Beermen 2nd/10 11 3 .786 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
FinalsSan Miguel** 95, Air21 75
San Miguel 4, Barangay GinebraBarangay 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...
2
Talk 'N Text 4, San Miguel 2COM 2011 PBA Commissioner's Cup-Air21-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-Air21 series:-Smart Gilas-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics...
Petron Blaze Boosters 10th/10 2 7 .222 Did not qualify GOV 2011 PBA Governors Cup- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics. Highlighted are the imports who stayed with their respective teams for the entire conference....
2nd/9 5 3 .625 Semifinals
Finals2nd overall (8–5), 3–2 in semifinals
Petron 4, Talk 'N Text 3Total elimination round 18 13 2 semifinal appearances Total playoffs 16 9 .640 |2 Finals appearances Total 2010–11 34 22 .607 |1 championship Total franchise 1,098 870 .558 |19 championships
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage
PBA's 25th anniversary all-time team
- Ato AgustinAto AgustinRenato Agustin , better known as Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. He played college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines, before moving on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association.Agustin is a former Most Valuable...
- "The Atom Bomb" named 1991 PBA Most Improved Player & 1992 PBA MVP as a member of the team. Now he is the new head coach of SMB. - Lim Eng BengLim Eng BengLim Eng Beng , is a former Philippine Basketball Association player. Played from 1975–1986, he is one of the greatest players in the history of the PBA. He is much remembered playing for the U/Tex Wranglers, where he was named to the Mythical Five on two occasions, and won two championships and...
- played for San Miguel in 1982 - Ricardo BrownRicky Brown (basketball)Ricardo Vidal Brown , also known as Ricky Brown, is a former Filipino American professional basketball player. He was drafted by the Houston Rockets in the 3rd Round of the NBA Draft. Brown played college ball at Pepperdine University, where he was All-West Coast his Junior and Senior years, and...
- "The Quick Brown Fox" acquired by the team from Great Taste and played his final playing years with the team, the PBA's All-Time leader in average points with 23.1 ppg in his whole career. - Allan CaidicAllan CaidicAlan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
- "The Triggerman" acquired in 1993 from the disbanding Presto Ice Cream, he played six seasons with the team and later became playing assistant coach. - Hector CalmaHector CalmaHector Calma is a retired Filipino professional basketball player. At 5 feet and 6 inches, he played at the point guard position and was most notably associated with the San Miguel Beer team of the Philippine Basketball Association....
- "The Director" was a key point guard of the team during their glory years in the late-1980's. He is now the current Team Manager. - Ramon FernandezRamón FernándezRamon S. Fernandez is generally regarded as the greatest basketball player produced by the Philippine Basketball Association. Fernandez won four Most Valuable Player awards and a record of 19 PBA championships bagged...
- "El Presidente"/"The Franchise" acquired from Purefoods in 1988, he won MVP honors that same year despite playing 1/3 of the season with the team. He played six more seasons with the team. - Abet GuidabenAbet GuidabenAlberto "Abet" Guidaben is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player. He was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983...
- named 1987 PBA MVP as a member of the team - Samboy LimSamboy LimAvelino B. Lim, Jr. , better known as Samboy Lim, is a former basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. As a shooting guard, the iconic Lim distinguished himself with Magic Johnson-like ball handling skills and Julius "Dr...
- "The Skywalker"/"The Dragon" played his whole career with San Miguel and was known for his fearless drives to the basket that often leads to injuries. He is one of the most popular figures in franchise history. - Manny PanerManny PanerManuel Paner , better known as Manny Paner, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. Paner was born in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. He played for San Miguel in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association and also in the Philippine Basketball Association for Royal/San...
- played for the team during the Royal Tru-Orange years and also during the Magnolia years. - Benjie ParasBenjie ParasVenancio Johnson Paras, Jr. , better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association turned actor. He is the only PBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors, in a single season...
- "The Tower of Power" made a short comeback in the PBA with the team in 2003.
Other notable players
- Allan Abelgas
- Freddie AbudaFreddie AbudaFreddie Abuda is a former Philippine Basketball Association player. He was drafted by Purefoods, then known Coney Island Ice Cream, in the 2nd round as the 10th overall pick....
- "the Scavenger" is a 4-time Defensive Team member & 2-time Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 & 2000. He is the current assitant coach of the team. - Rommel AdduculRommel AdduculRomel Adducul is a professional basketball player from the Philippines who currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Powerade Tigers....
-"The General" - Kiko AdrianoFrancis AdrianoFrancis "Kiko" Adriano is a professional basketball player in the Asean Basketball League. He currently plays as an import for the SM BritAma. Drafted 6th overall by Sta...
- Alfredo "Alfie" Almario- team captain of the 1989 Grand Slam team.
- Bong Alvarez- "Mr. Excitement"
- Joselo "Josel" Angeles
- Nelson AsaytonoNelson AsaytonoNelson Asaytono is a retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association, also known as "The Bull" for his monster dunks...
- "the Bull" / "the Dynamo" - Vegildo "Gido" BabiloniaGido BabiloniaVegildo "Gido" Babilonia was a former Filipino basketball player.-Early life and career:Born Vegildo Quezon T. Babilonia on August 19, 1966. He was a native of Quezon.-Basketball career:...
- "Prinsipe K" - Froilan BaguionFroilan BaguionFroilan Baguion is a professional basketball player in the Asean Basketball League who plays for the Chang Thailand Slammers...
- Noli Banate
- Nic BelascoNic BelascoNicholas Belasco better known as Nic Belasco, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who last played for the Sta. Lucia Realtors. He was drafted 2nd overall by Sunkist in 1997.-Player Profile:Belasco is one of the many reliable big men in the league...
- Rudolph "Udoy" Belmonte
- Crisanto "Jumbo" Bolado
- Ken BonoKen BonoKarl Kenneth O. Bono , better known as Ken Bono, is a Filipino basketball player, selected sixth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA Draft...
- Roel Bravo
- Brandon CablayBrandon CablayBrandon Lee Kaui Cablay is a Filipino- American professional basketball player currently playing for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association. He started his career in the PBA in 2003 as a member of the Alaska Aces. He won his first PBA championship in the 2003 PBA Invitational...
- June Carmona
- Gilbert Castillo
- Alvin Castro
- Worley Cuevas
- Ricardo "Ricky" Cui- many SMB fans consider him a member of the 1989 Grand Slam team though officially he was only part of the first two conference championships that year.
- Arturo "Art" dela Cruz- 3-time Defensive Team member & 1995 Defensive Player of the Year.
- Anthony Dasalla
- Yves Dignadice- member of the 1989 Grand Slam team.
- Ramon Dizon
- Robert Duat
- Estoy Estrada
- Lordy TugadeLordy TugadeLordy Tugade is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays and recently signed by the Petron Blaze Boosters....
- Larry FonacierLarry FonacierLarry Alexander N. Fonacier is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters...
- Bryan Gahol
- Arnold Gamboa
- Wesley GonzalesWesley GonzalesWesley O. Gonzales is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.-Player Profile:...
- Dante Gonzalgo- "the Bicol Express"
- Jeffrey Graves- member of the 1989 Grand Slam team.
- Alfredo "Pido" JarencioPido JarencioAlfredo Jarencio , better known as Pido "Wilberto Palomar" Jarencio, is a former Filipino professional basketball player...
- "the Fireman" - current assistant coach of the team. - Robert "Bobby" Jose- "the Firecracker" was a member of the 1989 Grand Slam team. A PBA All Star during his rookie year.
- Brian Joseph Juan
- Abe KingAbe KingAbe King, Jr. was a Filipino basketball player who was part of the champion Philippine Basketball Association ballclub Toyota Tamaraws. He was the starting power center of 1976 MICAA Champion Crown Motors before his mother team, the Toyota Tamaraws called upon his services at the start of the...
- "the Chairman of the Board" - Mark Kong
- Dwight Lago
- Rudy Lalota
- Federico "Bokyo" Lauchengco
- Frankie Lim
- Renato "Etok" Lobo
- Denver LopezDenver LopezDenver Lopez is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who is currently an Assistant Choach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters...
- Romeo "Romy" Lopez
- Joey LoyzagaJoey LoyzagaErnesto Jose C. Loyzaga , better known as Joey Loyzaga, is a former Filipino basketball player. He played college ball for San Beda College before eventually going on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association. Loyzaga played for Magnolia, Swift, Shell, Ginebra, and...
- Yoyong Martirez
- Joey MenteJoey MenteJoey Mente is a former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who last played for the Welcoat Dragons. He was drafted 6th overall by San Miguel in 2001.-Player Profile:...
- Jess Migalbin
- Eric Montilla
- Mike Mustre
- Edward Naron
- Victor "Vic" Pablo
- Ronnie Padilla
- Leo Paguntalan- "the Horse"
- Joseph "Jake/Jeg-Jeg" Pelaez
- Marc PingrisMarc PingrisJean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
- Dong Polistico - "the Police"
- Edgardo "Dong" Postanes
- Franz Pumaren- "the Missile" was member of the 1989 Grand Slam team.
- Bryant Punzalan
- Kevin Ramas
- Melchor "Biboy" Ravanes - current assistant coach of the team.
- Ferdinand "Bong" Ravena- 1992 PBA Rookie of the Year
- Elmer Reyes - "Marco Polo" was member of the 1989 Grand Slam team
- Omanzie Rodriguez
- Marte Saldaña- "The Mighty Mite" was the 1982 PBA Rookie of the Year
- Gerry Samlani
- Dale SingsonDale SingsonRamon "Dale" Singson is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Powerade Tigers in the Philippine Basketball Association. He plays the Point Guard and Shooting Guard positions. He was directly hired by the Shell Turbo Chargers from the MBA in 2000...
- Genesis Surio
- Alvin Teng- "Robocop" was the 1988 PBA Most Improved Player, a member of the 1989 Grand Slam team, the 1993 PBA All Star MVP & 1993 PBA Defensive Player of the Year and a 4-time Defensive Team member.
- Siot Tanquincen - Former Head Coach of San Miguel Beermen
- Lewis Alfred TenorioLA TenorioLewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
- Julian Rabbi Tomacruz
- Tony Torrente
- Joseph "Joey" Valdes
- Emmanuel "Boybits" Victoria - 1994 Rookie of the Year
- Enrico VillanuevaEnrico VillanuevaJose Enrico P. Villanueva , better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association...
- "The Raging Bull" - Jonas VillanuevaJonas VillanuevaJonas Villanueva is a Filipino professional basketball player currently on the inactive list of the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association due to an injury...
- 2008-09 PBA Most Improved Player and 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals MVP - Anton Villoria
- Willy WilsonWilly WilsonWilliam Wilson , also known as Willy Wilson and Willie Wilson, is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
- Antonio "Tonichi" Yturri- member of the 1989 Grand Slam team.
- Donaldo "dondon" Hontiveros- The Cebuano Hotshot.
- Gabe FreemanGabe FreemanGabriel Freeman is an American professional basketball player who plays for the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada...
- Joseph " the ninja" Yeo
Imports
- Mario BennettMario BennettMario Marcell Bennett is an American professional basketball player.- College career :The youngest of four children, Bennett was an early entry candidate for the 1995 NBA Draft despite having been in school for four years, because he missed the entire 1992-93 season recovering from knee surgery...
- John BestJohn BestJohn Best may refer to:* John William Best , Royal Air Force pilot* John Best , British politician* John Best , US/English soccer defender* John Best , Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard...
- Carl Bird
- Norman BlackNorman BlackNorman 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...
- former head coach of the team. Steered to the 1989 Grand Slam. - Chris BurgessChris BurgessChris Burgess is an American basketball player. Burgess started his freshman year at Mater Dei High School where he transferred to his local school Woodbridge High School in California and played his remaining high school years. He then attended Duke University and University of Utah...
- Nate Carter
- Cedric CeballosCedric CeballosCedric Z. Ceballos is an American professional basketball player. As a small forward, he played most notably for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, later finishing his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat.Ceballos attended college at Ventura College and...
- Derrick ChievousDerrick ChievousDerrick Joseph Chievous is a retired American professional basketball player who played the forward position, and was selected by the Houston Rockets in the 1st round of the 1988 NBA Draft....
- Ace Custis
- Gabriel Freeman
- Rico HillRico HillRico Hill is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Muscle of the Premier Basketball League...
- Kwan Johnson
- Donnie Ray Koonce
- Art LongArt LongArthur Donnell Long is an American professional basketball player formerly in the NBA. A 6'9", 250 pound power forward out of the East High School and University of Cincinnati who also attended Independence Community Junior College, Dodge City Community College in Kansas and Southeastern...
- Amal McCaskillAmal McCaskillAmal Omari McCaskill is an American professional basketball player, at the center position. He currently plays for the KTP-Basket in the Finnish Basketball League....
- Otto MooreOtto MooreOtto George Moore is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'11" center from the University of Texas-Pan American, Moore played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Kansas City-Omaha Kings, and New...
- Richard MortonRichard MortonFor the American professional wrestler, see Ricky Morton.For the English physician, see Richard Morton .Richard Morton is a retired American professional basketball player...
- Andrew Moten
- Terquin Mott
- Bobby ParksBobby ParksBobby Ray Parks is an American professional basketball player from Grand Junction, Tennessee. He played for Memphis State University during the 1980s and played internationally in France and the Philippines...
- current assistant coach of the team. - Michael PhelpsMike PhelpsMichael Phelps is a retired American professional basketball player. He attended Alcorn State University and was selected in the 7th round of the 1985 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. As well as with the Sonics, Phelps also played with the Los Angeles Clippers.-External links:* @...
- Larry Pounds
- Stephen HowardStephen HowardStephen Howard may refer to:*Stephen Howard , US athlete in professional basketball*Stephen Howard , Australian athlete in cricket*Stephen Goodwin Howard , English politician-See also:...
- Larry RobinsonLarry Robinson (basketball)Larry Robinson is an American professional basketball player, 6'5" tall, at the shooting guard position, formerly in the NBA. He played collegiately 2 seasons at Eastern Oklahoma State College and then 2 seasons at the Centenary College of Louisiana...
- Shea SealsShea SealsShea Brandon Seals is an American professional basketball player. He played in four games with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1997-98 NBA season...
- Keith SmartKeith SmartJonathan Keith Smart is a retired American basketball player and current assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. He is best remembered for hitting the game-winning shot in the 1987 NCAA championship game. The shot gave the Indiana Hoosiers a 74–73 victory over the Syracuse Orangemen...
- Lamont Strothers
- Jay TaylorJay TaylorJames "Jay" Taylor is an American professional football kicker for the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. He played collegiately for the West Virginia Mountaineers.-High school years:...
- Kenny Travis
- Jeff WardJeff WardJeff Ward may refer to:* Jeff Ward * Jeff Ward * Jeffrey Ward...
- Jameel WatkinsJameel WatkinsJameel Watkins is an American professional basketball center. He was a college standout for the Georgetown Hoyas during the late 1990s but never played in the NBA.-College career:...
- Ennis WhatleyEnnis WhatleyEnnis Whatley is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Kansas City Kings in the first round of the 1983 NBA Draft. Whatley played in ten NBA seasons...
- Ricky WilsonRicky WilsonRicky Wilson may refer to:*Ricky Wilson , guitarist of The B-52's*Ricky Wilson , singer of Kaiser Chiefs*Ricky Wilson , former NBA player...
- Galen YoungGalen YoungGalen Young is an American-Canadian professional basketball player currently playing for the Hawke's Bay Hawks in the New Zealand NBL.Young is 1.98 m tall and plays small forward and power forward.-Basketball career:...
- Chris Williams
- Joe WylieJoe WylieJoseph Jay Wylie, Sr., born February 2, 1968 in Washington, DC, is a retired professional basketball player. He is listed at 6'9" and weighed 220 lbs. Wylie played collegiate ball with the University of Miami Hurricanes . He entered the 1991 NBA Draft and was picked 38th in the second round...
- Nate Johnson
- Jeremy Wise
- Anthony GrundyAnthony GrundyAnthony Montreace Grundy is an American professional basketball player. He is a 6 ft 3 in point guard-shooting guard...
Coaches
- Ignacio RamosIgnacio Ramos (basketball)Ignacio "Ning" Ramos is a former Filipino basketball player and head coach. He was part of the Philippine national basketball team that captured the gold medal at the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi, India...
(1975–1979) - Edgardo OcampoEdgardo OcampoEdgardo L. Ocampo, also known as Ed Ocampo and Eddie Ocampo, was a former Filipino basketball player and head coach. Ocampo was born in Pampanga, Philippines. He played college ball for the Ateneo de Manila University, where he led the team to two championships in 1957 and 1958...
(1979–1981) - Tommy ManotocTommy ManotocTommy 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...
(1981–1982) - Nat Canson (1982–1986)
- Derrick PumarenDerrick PumarenFrederick S. Pumaren, better known as Derrick Pumaren, is a Filipino basketball coach.-Career:Derrick Pumaren was a member of the UE Red Warrior 1978 and 1979 Championship Teams, PBA Consultant, and a National Team Coach...
(1986–1987) - Norman BlackNorman BlackNorman 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...
(1987–1997) - Ron Jacobs (1997–1998)
- Pilo Pumaren (1998–1999)
- Jong UichicoJong UichicoJoseph Enrique Uichico, better known as Jong Uichico, is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. Uichico is a former Philippines national basketball team Youth member and a former player and head coach of the La Salle...
(1999–2006) - Chot ReyesChot ReyesVincent P. Reyes , better known as Chot Reyes, is a Filipino basketball head coach of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
(2006–2007) - Biboy Ravanes (2007-interim)
- Siot Tanquingcen (2002-interim, 2007–2010)
- Ato AgustinAto AgustinRenato Agustin , better known as Ato "The Atom Bomb" Agustin, is a former Filipino professional basketball player. He played college ball for the Lyceum of the Philippines, before moving on to play professional basketball in the Philippine Basketball Association.Agustin is a former Most Valuable...
(2010–present)