1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season

The 1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season was the seventh season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Known as the Sunkist Orange Juicers in the All-Filipino Cup.

1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season
Head coachDerrick Pumaren
General ManagerElmer Yanga
Owner(s)RFM Corporation
All Filipino Cup results
Record4–10
(28.6%)
Place7th
Playoff finishN/A
Commissioner's Cup results
Record5–6
(45.5%)
Place6th
Playoff finishN/A
Governor's Cup results
Record6–7
(46.2%)
Place5th
Playoff finishQuarterfinals
Sunkist Orange Bottlers seasons
← 1995
1997 →

Draft pick

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Round Pick Player College
1 8 Joselito Rodriguez UNO-R

Occurrences

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Tony Harris came back as their import in the Governor's Cup, but the Hurricane could only play three games after Sunkist lost two straight matches to Shell and Purefoods. The coaching staff decided to replace Harris with a new import Lester Neal.

Notable dates

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March 12: Vergel Meneses unloaded 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and led a breakaway by Sunkist in the last eight minutes as the defending All-Filipino Cup champions pulled off a 93-84 victory over San Miguel Beermen and evened up their won-loss record to three wins and three losses. [1]

June 21: Marques Bragg banged in a three-point play off Ronnie Thompkins with 14.5 seconds left to snap the final tie and Sunkist recovered from an early 16-point deficit to scuttle Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, 97-93. It was the Orange Bottlers first win in three games in the Commissioners Cup. [2]

September 29: Alvin Teng put back a miss by Tony Harris with 4.7 seconds left to lift Sunkist to a thrilling 93-91 victory over defending champion Alaska Milkmen at the start of the Governors Cup. [3]

Roster

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1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
C 1   Victorino, Manny 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) José Rizal
G   Tanquingcen, Siot 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) UST
C 4   Balingit, Bonel 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Visayas
G 5   Santiago, Jack 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Mapúa
F 6 & 19   Duremdes, Kenneth 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Adamson
G 9   Victoria, Boybits 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) San Beda
F/C 10   Teng, Alvin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Arellano
G 11 & 6   Agustin, Ato 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Lyceum
G 14   Distrito, Rudy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UE
F 18   Meneses, Vergel 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) José Rizal
G 23   Marata, Ricardo 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Southwestern-U
F 24   Reyes, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Ateneo
C 35   Realubit, Zaldy 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) USJ–R
C 43   Paguinto, Alejandro 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Far Eastern
F 64   Morelos, Marcelino 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UE
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager
  •   Elmer Yanga

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

Transactions

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Additions

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Name Deal Information Former team
Gerardo Santiago Rookie free agent N/A
Siot Tanquingcen Rookie free agent N/A
Manny Victorino Signed to a short-term contract late in the season to fill the spot of the injured Bonel Balingit Purefoods (1994)

Trades

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Off-season To Pepsi
Yoyoy Villamin
To Sunkist
Alvin Teng
April 1, 1996
[4]
To San Miguel Beermen
#25 Nelson Asaytono
To Sunkist
Ato Agustin, Mar Morelos

Recruited imports

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Tournament Name Number Position University/College Duration
Commissioner's Cup Marques Bragg 33 Center-Forward Providence College June 14 to July 30
Governors' Cup Tony Harris 22 Guard-Forward University of New Orleans September 29 to October 6
Lester Neal 44 Forward Arizona State October 11 to November 24

References

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  1. ^ "Meneses stars as Sunkist blasts San Miguel". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Bragg stars as Sunkist squeakes past Purefoods". Manila Standard.
  3. ^ "Sunkist, SMB take Governor's Cup openers". Manila Standard.
  4. ^ "Asaytono now a Beerman". Manila Standard.