1998–99 Philippine Basketball League season

The 1998–99 season of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

1998–99 PBL season
DurationApril 18, 1998 – January 21, 1999
Number of teams7
TV partner(s)Silverstar Sports (PTV)
Season MVPEric Menk
Eric Menk
1st Centennial Cup championsTanduay Centennial Rhum Masters
  1st Centennial Cup runners-upBatang Red Bull Energy Kings
2nd Centennial Cup championsDr.J Rubbing Alcohol
  2nd Centennial Cup runners-upTanduay Gold Rhum Masters
Seasons
← 1997-98

TV coverage

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PTV 4, in partnership with Silverstar Sports as the line producer, covered the PBL games.

1998 (1st) Centennial Cup

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Participating teams (coach)

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Finals series

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July 6
Tanduay Centennial Rhum 71, Batang Red Bull 65
Tanduay wins series, 3-0

Tanduay scored a 3–0 sweep over Red Bull in the 1st Yakult-PBL Centennial Cup finals. The Rhum Masters clinch the title with a 71-65 victory in Game three.[1]

1998-99 (2nd) Centennial Cup

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Participating teams (coach)

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Finals series

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January 11
Dr.J-ANA 62, Tanduay Gold Rhum 61
January 14
Dr.J-ANA 75, Tanduay Gold Rhum 66
January 16
Dr.J-ANA 56, Tanduay Gold Rhum 77
January 18
Dr.J-ANA 57, Tanduay Gold Rhum 62
January 21
Dr.J-ANA 62, Tanduay Gold Rhum 59
Dr.J-ANA wins series, 3-2

Tanduay Rhum Masters strung up 18 straight victories (18-0) in the 2nd Yakult-PBL Centennial Cup, before newcomer Blu Detergents halted their winning run. Tanduay wound up with a 19–1 win–loss record going into the finals.

Dr.J/ANA Water Dispenser won their first-ever PBL crown with a 3-2 series win over Tanduay and denied the Rhum Masters on what could have been a grand exit for the multi-titled ballclub as the Lucio Tan franchise leaped to the pro ranks.[2]

All-Star game

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A PBL All-Star game was held in December 1998, Tanduay's Eric Menk leads the PBL-UAAP selection while Asi Taulava of Blu Detergent beef up the PBL-NCAA Hapee selection. The North vs South All-Star game had Yakult-South being coach by Leo Austria while the North All-Stars was handled by Gabby Velasco.

Women's Philippine Basketball League (WPBL)

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PBL Commissioner Yeng Guiao came up with the formation of the first-ever women's league in the PBL in mid-October to spice up the 2nd conference, among the teams which participated in the Women's Philippine Basketball League are Dr J/Ana Dispenser, Dreyers Ice Cream, Welcoat Paints, Ever Bilena, Tanduay, Chowking and Paralux/Ironcon. Notable WPBL cagebelles were former RP team members Mitchell Jimenez (Paralux), Ana Marie Tinasas (Dreyers), Joanna Franquelli (Ana Dispenser), Mary Ellen Caasi and Cherry Maralit (Welcoat), and four-time SEA games campaigner and silver medal winning-RP team in the Chiang Mai games, Julie Amos of Ever Bilena.

On December 28, 1998, Ever Bilena won the first Birch Tree-Women's PBL crown with a nail-biting 52-51 victory over Chowking at the Makati Coliseum.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Tanduay bags Centennial Cup". Philippine Headline News Online.
  2. ^ "A first for Dr.J".
  3. ^ "Ever Bilena bags first WPBL crown". Philippine Headline News Online.
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