1998 Mobiline Phone Pals season

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1998 Mobiline Phone Pals season
Head coachTommy Manotoc
Eric Altamirano
Owner(s)Pilipino Telephone Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record4–7
(36.4%)
Place7th
Playoff finishEliminated
Commissioner's Cup results
Record5–7
(41.7%)
Place6th
Playoff finishQuarterfinals (lost to San Miguel in one game)
Governors' Cup results
Record16–13
(55.2%)
Place2nd
Playoff finishRunner-Up (lost to Formula Shell 3-4)
Mobiline Phone Pals seasons
← 1997
1999 →

The 1998 Mobiline Phone Pals season was the ninth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks[edit]

Round Pick Player Nationality College
2 11 Braulio Lim  Philippines UE
3 Tyrone Bautista  Philippines La Salle

Occurrences[edit]

Mobiline coach Tommy Manotoc has hired three-time MVP William Adornado as one of his assistant coaches at the start of the season.

Beginning the Commissioner's Cup on May 22, former Purefoods coach Eric Altamirano signed a four-year contract to coach the Mobiline Phone Pals. Altamirano's contract with Purefoods expired last March 31.

Notable dates[edit]

February 8: Andy Seigle nailed a baseline jumper in the final 25 seconds and made a crucial steal afterwards as Mobiline redeemed itself from their first game blowout loss to Gordon's Gin by nipping defending champion Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 67-64.[1]

March 8: Al Solis shot seven triples, one short of his own personal record to finish with a game-high 27 points as Mobiline keeps its hopes alive for a semifinals berth in the All-Filipino Cup with an 89-77 win over San Miguel Beermen and give the Phone Pals its fourth win in 10 games. Prior to the game, the Phone Pals have lost their last four assignments.[2]

May 29: After losing their first two games in the Commissioners Cup with Alex Fraser as their import, Fraser was replaced by their original choice Terquin Mott, who debut with 50 points in giving the Phone Pals their first win in a 94-90 victory over Shell.

Centennial Cup title[edit]

Mobiline finally captured a PBA title in a "bonus" tournament called Centennial Cup, the Phone Pals defeated Formula Shell, 67-66, in the one-game finale.

Runner-up finish[edit]

The perfect combination of imports Silas Mills and Artemus McClary led Mobiline to the Governor's Cup finals in a rematch with Formula Shell. The Phone Pals played without national team members Jeffrey Cariaso and Andy Seigle for the whole conference, they lost in the championship series that went into a full limit of seven games.

Awards[edit]

  • Silas Mills was named Governors Cup Best Import.
  • Patrick Fran was voted the season's Most Improved Player.

Roster[edit]

Mobiline Phone Pals roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 3 Philippines Espinosa, Antonio 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) De La Salle
G 8 Philippines Solis, Al 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Visayas
G/F 9 Philippines Francisco, Jose 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Far Eastern
F 10 Philippines Teng, Alvin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Arellano
G/F 12 Philippines Capacio, Glenn 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Far Eastern
F 14 Philippines Reyes, Eric 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Ateneo
G 17 Philippines Fran, Patrick 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) UST
F 22 Philippines Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State
G/F 24 Philippines Castelo, Merwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) San Beda
F 33 Philippines Martin, Joselito 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) NCBA
C 52 United States Seigle, Andy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) New Orleans
F/C 81 Philippines Cui, Gabby 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Ateneo
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Transactions[edit]

Trades[edit]

Off-season To Sta. Lucia Realtors
Richard del Rosario
To Mobiline Phone Pals
Gabby Cui
July 1998
To Sta. Lucia Realtors
Lowell Briones
To Mobiline Phone Pals
Jose Francisco

Addition[edit]

Player Signed Former team
Merwin Castelo Off-season Alaska Milkmen

Subtractions[edit]

Player Signed New team
Franz Pumaren Off-season Retired
Ato Agustin Off-season Pampanga Dragons (MBA)
Braulio Lim May 1998 Alaska Milkmen

Recruited imports[edit]

Tournament Name Number Position University/College Duration
Commissioner's Cup Alex Fraser 20 Center-Forward University of Miami May 23-26
Terquin Mott 32 Center-Forward Coppin State May 29 to July 17
Governors' Cup Silas Mills 1 Forward Utah State August 30 to December 9
Artemus McClary 25 Guard-Forward Jacksonville August 30 to December 9

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Seigle delivers winning basket as Mobiline thwarts Purefoods". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Mobiline's Solis rises to the occasion". Manila Standard.