1996 PBA season

The 1996 PBA season was the 22nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1996 PBA season
Duration	February 18 – December 17, 1996
Number of teams	8
TV partner(s)	VTV (IBC)
1996 PBA Draft
Top draft pick	Marlou Aquino
Picked by	Ginebra San Miguel
Season MVP	Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska Milkmen)
All-Filipino Cup champions	Alaska Milkmen
All-Filipino Cup runners-up	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs
Commissioner's Cup champions	Alaska Milkmen
Commissioner's Cup runners-up	Formula Shell Zoom Masters
Governors Cup champions	Alaska Milkmen
Governors Cup runners-up	Ginebra San Miguel

Board of governors

Executive committee

• Jun Bernardino (Commissioner)
• Teodoro L. Dimayuga (Chairman, representing Purefoods TJ Hotdogs)
• Nazario L. Avendaño (Vice-Chairman, representing San Miguel Beermen)
• Dr. Antonio V. Concepcion (Treasurer, representing Ginebra San Miguel)

Teams

Team	Company	Governor	Alternate Governor
Alaska Milkmen	Alaska Milk Corporation	Wilfred Steven Uytengsu	Joaquin Trillo
Formula Shell Zoommasters	Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation	Reynaldo Gamboa	Eliseo Santiago
Ginebra San Miguel	La Tondeña Distillers, Inc.	Dr. Antonio Concepcion	Bernabe Navarro, Jr.
Pepsi Mega/Mobiline Cellulars	Lapanday Holdings Corporation	Luis F. Lorenzo
Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs	Purefoods Corporation	Teodoro Dimayuga	Eliezer Capacio
San Miguel Beermen	San Miguel Corporation	Nazario Avendaño	Eddie Veneracion
Sta. Lucia Realtors	Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation	Manuel Encarnado	Vicente Santos
Sunkist Orange Juicers	RFM Corporation	Elmer Yanga	Aurora Timbol

Season highlights

• The league's broadcast partner, Vintage Sports, switched networks from People's Television to Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation. They also changed their primary language from English to Tagalog.
• Crowd-favorite Ginebra San Miguel return to their winning ways after years of being a doormat with the entry of top draft pick, 6-9 Marlou Aquino, the Ginebras advances in the semifinals for the first time in three years during the All-Filipino Cup, their season was highlighted by a finals trip in the third conference, losing to grandslam champions Alaska Milkmen.
• The Pepsi Mega Bottlers sold their franchise to PILTEL and was renamed Mobiline Cellulars at the start of the Commissioner's Cup.
• The Alaska Milkmen became the fourth team to win the PBA Grand slam by sweeping all three conferences of the season, joining the 1976 and 1983 Crispa Redmanizers and the 1989 San Miguel Beermen. ^[1]
• Johnny Abarrientos became the first pure guard to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award since Ricardo Brown in 1985. ^[2]

Opening ceremonies

The muses for the participating teams are as follows:

Team	Muse
Alaska Milkmen	Anamarie Pukon and Sharon Fuentes
Formula Shell	Teresa Herrera
Ginebra San Miguel	Amanda Page
Pepsi Mega	Maricel Morales (Mutya ng Pilipinas)
Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs	Chantal Umali
San Miguel Beermen	Candice Coral and Gracia
Sta. Lucia Realtors	Cara Sobejano and Abigail Arenas
Sunkist Orange Juicers	Vina Morales

Champions

• All-Filipino Cup: Alaska Milkmen
• Commissioner's Cup: Alaska Milkmen
• Governor's Cup: Alaska Milkmen
• Team with best win–loss percentage: Alaska Milkmen (51-21, .708)
• Best Team of the Year: Alaska Milkmen (1st)

All-Filipino Cup

Main article: 1996 PBA All-Filipino Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Alaska Milkmen	10	4	.714	—	Semifinal round
2	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	9	5	.643	1
3	Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs	8	6	.571	2
4	San Miguel Beermen	8	6	.571	2
5	Ginebra San Miguel	7	7	.500	3
6	Sta. Lucia Realtors	6	8	.429	4
7	Sunkist Orange Juicers	4	10	.286	6
8	Pepsi Mega Bottlers	4	10	.286	6

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Semifinal round

Overall standings Pos Team v t e W L PCT GB Qualification 1 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 14 8 .636 — Advance to the finals[a] 2 Alaska Milkmen 13 9 .591 1 Guaranteed finals berth playoff 3 Ginebra San Miguel 12 10 .545[b] 2 Qualify to finals berth playoff 4 San Miguel Beermen 12 10 .545[b] 2 Proceed to third place playoff 5 Formula Shell Zoom Masters 11 11 .500 3 Source: [citation needed] Notes: If a team outside the top two teams wins at least five semifinal round games, then it and the second-placed team will playoff for the last finals berth; otherwise, the top 2 teams qualify outright. Head-to-head record: Ginebra 3–1 San Miguel

Semifinal round standings Pos Team v t e W L Qualification 1 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 6 2 2 Ginebra San Miguel 5 3 Qualify to finals berth playoff[a] 3 San Miguel Beermen 4 4 4 Alaska Milkmen 3 5 5 Formula Shell Zoom Masters 2 6 Source: [citation needed] Notes: Purefoods qualified outright as #1 seeded team; finals berth playoff: Alaska 96–83 Ginebra

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(3) Ginebra San Miguel	99–100	(4) San Miguel Beermen

Finals

Main article: 1996 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(1) Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs	1–4	(2) Alaska Milkmen	77–78	79–86	99–87	62–75	92–93 (OT)	—	—

• Finals MVP: Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska)
• Best Player of the Conference: Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods)

Commissioner's Cup

Main article: 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Alaska Milkmen	8	2	.800	—	Semifinal round
2	Ginebra San Miguel	6	4	.600[a]	2
3	Sta. Lucia Realtors	6	4	.600[a]	2
4	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	5	5	.500[b]	3
5	Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs	5	5	.500[b]	3
6	Sunkist Orange Juicers	5	5	.500[b]	3
7	San Miguel Beermen	4	6	.400	4
8	Mobiline Cellulars	1	9	.100	7

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. Head-to-head record: Ginebra 1–0 Sta. Lucia
2. Head-to-head quotient: Shell 1.170, Purefoods 1.050, Sunkist 0.861; semifinal round berth playoff: Purefoods 89–76 Sunkist

Semifinal round

Overall standings Pos Team v t e W L PCT GB Qualification 1 Alaska Milkmen 14 4 .778 — Advance to the finals[a] 2 Ginebra San Miguel 12 6 .667 2 Guaranteed finals berth playoff 3 Formula Shell Zoom Masters 10 8 .556 4 Qualify to finals berth playoff 4 Sta. Lucia Realtors 8 10 .444 6 Proceed to third place playoff 5 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 6 12 .333 8 Source: [citation needed] Notes: If a team outside the top two teams wins at least five semifinal round games, then it and the second-placed team will playoff for the last finals berth; otherwise, the top 2 teams qualify outright.

Semifinal round standings Pos Team v t e W L Qualification 1 Alaska Milkmen 6 2 2 Ginebra San Miguel 6 2 3 Formula Shell Zoom Masters 5 3 Qualify to finals berth playoff[a] 4 Sta. Lucia Realtors 2 6 5 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 1 7 Source: [citation needed] Notes: Alaska advanced to the finals outright as #1 seeded team, Ginebra guaranteed finals berth playoff as #2 seeded team; finals berth playoff: Shell 89–86 Ginebra

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(2) Ginebra San Miguel	106–111	(4) Sta. Lucia Realtors

Finals

Main article: 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(1) Alaska Milkmen	4–3	(3) Formula Shell Zoom Masters	82–85	93–86	77–85	79–76	70–63	85–88	83–77

• Finals MVP: Bong Hawkins (Alaska)
• Best Player of the Conference: Bong Hawkins (Alaska)
• Best Import of the Conference: Ken Redfield (Formula Shell)

Governors' Cup

Main article: 1996 PBA Governors' Cup

Elimination round

Pos	Team v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Qualification
1	Alaska Milkmen	8	3	.727	—	Advance to semifinals
2	Ginebra San Miguel	7	4	.636	1
3	San Miguel Beermen	6	5	.545[a]	2	Twice-to-beat in quarterfinals
4	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	6	5	.545[a]	2
5	Sunkist Orange Bottlers	5	6	.455[b]	3	Twice-to-win in quarterfinals
6	Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys	5	6	.455[b]	3
7	Sta. Lucia Realtors	5	6	.455[b]	3
8	Mobiline Cellulars	2	9	.182	6

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. Head-to-head record: San Miguel 1–0 Shell
2. Head-to-head quotient: Sunkist 1.066, Purefoods 0.986, Sta. Lucia 0.951; 6th-seed playoff: Purefoods 81–76 Sta. Lucia

Playoffs

	Quarterfinals (Higher seeds twice-to-beat)						Semifinals (Best-of-5)					Finals (Best-of-7)
							1	Alaska	3
	4	Shell	100	104			4	Shell	0
	5	Sunkist	107	101								1	Alaska	4
												2	Ginebra	1
							2	Ginebra	3
	3	San Miguel	91*	89			3	San Miguel	1
	6	Purefoods	97	86								Third place
												4	Shell	103
												3	San Miguel	99

*Game went into overtime.

Quarterfinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2
(3) San Miguel Beermen*	1–1	(6) Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys	91–97 (OT)	89–86
(4) Formula Shell Zoom Masters*	1–1	(5) Sunkist Orange Bottlers	100–107	104–101

*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.

Semifinals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5
(1) Alaska Milkmen	3–0	(4) Formula Shell Zoom Masters	102–83	106–89	100–91	—	—
(2) Ginebra San Miguel	3–1	(3) San Miguel Beermen	88–94	115–111 (OT)	94–93 (OT)	122–106	—

Third place playoff

Team 1	Score	Team 2
(3) San Miguel Beermen	99–103	(4) Formula Shell Zoom Masters

Finals

Main article: 1996 PBA Governors' Cup finals

Team 1	Series	Team 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
(1) Alaska Milkmen	4–1	(2) Ginebra San Miguel	90–79	110–105	95–82	96–97	91–83	—	—

• Finals MVP: Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
• Best Player of the Conference: Marlou Aquino (Ginebra)
• Best Import of the Conference: Sean Chambers (Alaska)

Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
• Rookie of the Year: Marlou Aquino (Ginebra)
• Sportsmanship Award: Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods)
• Most Improved Player: Edward "Poch" Juinio (Alaska)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Marlou Aquino (Ginebra)
• Mythical Five:
  • Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
  • Rene Hawkins, Jr. (Alaska)
  • Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska)
  • Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods)
  • Marlou Aquino (Ginebra)
• Mythical Second Team:
  • Bal David (Ginebra)
  • Noli Locsin (Ginebra)
  • Jeffrey Cariaso (Alaska)
  • Benjie Paras (Shell)
  • Nelson Asaytono (San Miguel)
• All Defensive Team:
  • Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods)
  • Chris Jackson (Sta. Lucia)
  • Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
  • Jeffrey Cariaso (Alaska)
  • Marlou Aquino (Ginebra)

Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

• Coach of the Year: Tim Cone (Alaska)
• Mr. Quality Minutes: Gilbert "Jun" Reyes, Jr. (Alaska)
• Executive of the Year: Jun Bernardino (PBA Commissioner)
• Comeback Player of the Year: Richie Ticzon (Shell)
• Referee of the Year: Ogie Bernarte

Cumulative standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT	Best finish
1	Alaska Milkmen	72	51	21	.708	Champions
2	Ginebra San Miguel	64	35	29	.547	Finalist
3	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	65	33	32	.508
4	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs/Corned Beef Cowboys	60	29	31	.483
5	San Miguel Beermen	51	25	26	.490	Third place
6	Sta. Lucia Realtors	45	20	25	.444
7	Sunkist Orange Juicers/Bottlers	38	15	23	.395	Quarterfinalist
8	Pepsi Mega Bottlers/Mobiline Cellulars	35	7	28	.200	Elimination round

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Elimination round

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PCT
1	Alaska Milkmen	35	26	9	.743
2	Ginebra San Miguel	35	20	15	.571
3	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	35	20	15	.571
4	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs/Corned Beef Cowboys	35	18	17	.514
5	San Miguel Beermen	35	18	17	.514
6	Sta. Lucia Realtors	35	17	18	.486
7	Sunkist Orange Juicers/Bottlers	35	14	21	.400
8	Pepsi Mega BottlersMobiline Cellulars	35	7	28	.200

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Playoffs

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L
1	Alaska Milkmen	37	25	12
2	Ginebra San Miguel	29	15	14
3	Formula Shell Zoom Masters	30	13	17
4	Purefoods TJ Hotdogs/Corned Beef Cowboys	25	11	14
5	San Miguel Beermen	16	7	9
6	Sta. Lucia Realtors	10	3	7
7	Sunkist Orange Juicers/Bottlers	3	1	2
8	Pepsi Mega BottlersMobiline Cellulars	0	0	0

Source: ^{[citation needed]}