1997 Mobiline Phone Pals season

The 1997 Mobiline Phone Pals season was the eighth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team was known as Mobiline Cellulars for the All-Filipino Cup and Commissioner's Cup.

1997 Mobiline Cellulars season
Head coachNorman Black
Tommy Manotoc (Governors' Cup)
General ManagerDebbie Tan
Owner(s)Pilipino Telephone Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record9–13
(40.9%)
Place5th
Playoff finishSemifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record4–6
(40%)
Place6th
Playoff finishN/A
Governors' Cup results
Record7–8
(46.7%)
Place5th
Playoff finishQuarterfinals (lost to Purefoods in one game)
Mobiline Cellulars seasons
← 1996
1998 →

Draft picks

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Round Pick Player College
1 1 Andrew John Seigle University of New Orleans
2 9 Antonio Espinosa, Jr La Salle

Notable date

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February 23: Rookie Patrick Fran saved the day for the Cellulars in the 84–78 victory over Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys which clawed back from a 20-point deficit to come close to within three with still 71 seconds remaining. Mobiline scored their first win of the season after losing to defending champion Alaska Milkmen on opening day a week ago.[1]

Occurrences

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Former San Miguel coach Norman Black became the new head coach of Mobiline Cellulars, replacing Yeng Guiao at the start of the season.[2] Tonichi Yturri and Matthew Gaston was hired as assistants.[3]

Coach Black steered the team to a semifinal stint in the All-Filipino Cup after two years of being a doormat. After the Cellulars got eliminated in the Commissioner's Cup, Mobiline top honcho Choy Cojuangco and RFM chairman Joey Concepcion agreed on a player-coach trade during the first week of August. Norman Black coached his third team in 13 years with Pop Cola while Bottlers' team consultant Derrick Pumaren moved to the Cellulars.

Mobiline also acquired Ato Agustin from Pop Cola in exchange for Elpidio Villamin and Peter Martin. Starting the Governor's Cup, former Grand Slam coach Tommy Manotoc has taken Norman Black's place at the Mobiline bench with Derrick Pumaren as his co-mentor.[4]

Roster

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1997 Mobiline Phone Pals roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 3   Espinosa, Tonyboy 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) De La Salle
G 5   Pumaren, Franz 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) De La Salle
G 6   Agustin, Ato 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Lyceum
F/C 7   del Rosario, Richard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) De La Salle
G 8   Solis, Al 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Visayas
F 10   Teng, Alvin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Arellano
G/F 12   Capacio, Glenn 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Far Eastern
F 14   Reyes, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Ateneo
G/F 16   Briones, Lowell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Visayas
G 17   Fran, Patrick 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) UST
F 19   Santamaria, Joey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle
F 22   Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State
C 52   Seigle, Andy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) New Orleans
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  •   Injured

Transactions

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Additions

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Name Deal Information Former team
Lowell Briones Pick by Purefoods in the Rookie draft and dealt to the Cellulars the following day N/A
Patrick Fran Rookie Free Agent N/A
Franz Pumaren Acquired from San Miguel San Miguel Beermen
Eric Reyes Acquired from Sunkist late last year in a trade with Eugene Quilban Sunkist
Alvin Teng Acquired from Sunkist late last year in a trade with Jack Tanuan

Trades

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Off-season To Purefoods
Cadel Mosqueda
To Mobiline
Glenn Capacio
Off-season To Alaska
Dwight Lago
To Mobiline
Jeffrey Cariaso

Subtractions

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Player Signed New team
Yoyoy Villamin September 1997 Pop Cola
Peter Martin September 1997 Pop Cola

Recruited imports

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Tournament Name Number Position University/College Duration
Commissioner's Cup Isaiah Morris 35 Forward University of Arkansas June 15 to July 22
Governors' Cup Artemus McClary 25 Guard/forward Jacksonville University September 23 to November 18

References

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  1. ^ "Rookie lifts Mobiline past Purefoods". Manila Bulletin Online.
  2. ^ "Seigle-led Mobiline completes lineup". Manila Bulletin Online.
  3. ^ "Gaston named PSC commissioner – Daily Tribune". 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ^ "Manotoc named Mobiline head coach". Manila Standard.