In Philippine sports leagues, a Grand Slam is the achievement of a team winning all three conferences (or tournaments) in a single season. The term originated in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), as a traditional season is composed of three separate conferences rather than a single regular season and postseason. The term has since expanded into other leagues such as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
Philippine Basketball Association From 1975 to 2003, and again from 2010 onwards, a traditional Philippine Basketball Association season is composed of three conferences. Currently, these three are the Philippine Cup, Commissioner's Cup, and Governors' Cup.
In certain circumstances, the PBA may hold less than three conferences in a season. To pave the way for the Philippines' hosting of the 1981 SEA Games and 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, two conferences were held in the 1981 and 2023–24 seasons. Due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was reduced from three conferences to one while only two were held for the following 2021 season.
From 2004 to 2009, the league switched to a two-conference format consisting of the Philippine Cup and the import-laden Fiesta Conference. A Grand Slam can still be achieved by winning both titles but this was never done.San Mig's grand slam victory is destiny fulfilled, Bert A. Ramirez, Rappler, July 13, 2014
As of 2024, the PBA Grand Slam has been accomplished five times by four teams and four coaches since the league's inception in 1975.PBA GRAND SLAM: 18 years in the making , Tito S. Talao, Tempo, July 11, 2014 The Crispa Redmanizers are the only team to win two Grand Slams while Tim Cone is the only coach to win two, doing so with the Alaska Milkmen and San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in 1996 and 2014, respectively.
Winners Season Team Coach Defeated finalists Seasonrecord Ref.First Second Third 1976 Crispa Redmanizers Baby Dalupan Toyota Toyota Toyota 47–15 (75.8%) Talk 'N Text and the PBA's greatest dynasties , Jay P. Mercado, InterAKTV, February 1, 2012 1983 Crispa Redmanizers Tommy Manotoc Gilbey's Great Taste Great Taste 46–16 (74.2%) After 30 years, Crispa's win streak still unmatched, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, December 7, 2010 1989 San Miguel Beermen Norman Black Shell Purefoods Añejo 50–21 (70.4%) To honor 1989 grand slam team, Petron to change name back to San Miguel Beermen, GMA News Online, January 13, 2014 1996 Alaska Milkmen Tim Cone Purefoods Shell Ginebra 51–21 (70.8%) Amazing Alaska completes Grand Slam, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 18, 1996 2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers Tim Cone Rain or Shine Talk 'N Text Rain or Shine 41–30 (57.7%) History rewritten: Mixers claim PBA Grand Slam Championship, Carlo Pamintuan, Yahoo PH Sports, July 9, 2014
1976 Crispa Redmanizers
In the league's second season, the Crispa Redmanizers became the first team to win all of the conference championships in a single season. Before the start of the 1976 season, they had won the All-Philippine Championship, the third conference of the PBA's maiden season. The Redmanizers won all of the 1976 season conferencesthe All-Filipino (reclassified as the First Conference in 2010), the Open (reclassified as the Second Conference), and the All-Philippine Championshipwith an overall season record of 47–15. All of their championships were won against the Toyota Comets, who have been the Crispa Redmanizers' rivals since both teams played in MICAA. The Crispa Redmanizers' team was composed of future Hall of Famers Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, and Philip Cezar, and was coached by Baby Dalupan.Chasing A PBA Grand Slam: Crispa, San Miguel, And Alaska Provide The Blueprint For San Mig Coffee's Quest, Paolo Mariano, FHM Philippines, May 26, 2014
1983 Crispa Redmanizers
Crispa Redmanizers achieved the Grand Slam again in the 1983 season. The team still comprised many of the same players as the 1976 Grand Slam team, but they were now coached by former U/Tex Wranglers tactician Tommy Manotoc. Crispa began the season by winning 12 consecutive games in the All-Filipino Conference, losing only their first game to Toyota in the start of the group stage. They finished the group stage with a 7–1 record, then won all of their playoff games, including their best-of-five series against Gilbey's Gin Tonics. The team's winning streak continued into the next conference, the Reinforced Filipino Conference, as Crispa won their first nine games in the group stage and ended their streak with 21 wins.As Heat continue to roll, let's recall record win streaks in NBA and PBA, By the numbers: by Fidel Mangonon, Spin. ph, March 21, 2013 Also this conference, they hired former Portland Trail Blazer player Billy Ray Bates as their import. Crispa Redmanizers have won the conference championship against former Redmanizer Bogs Adornado and the Great Taste Coffee Makers by three games to two.
In the Open Conference, the final conference of the season, the Redmanizers again hired Bates as their import. They entered the finals against Great Taste. The Redmanizers again defeated the Coffee Makers in their best-of-five finals series.Fond Memories of Billy Ray Bates , Tempo, October 11, 2011 Bates won Best Import of the Conference awards for the Reinforced Filipino and Open Conferences. Abet Guidaben won the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season.
1989 San Miguel Beermen
The San Miguel Beermen won the 1988 PBA Reinforced Conference championship before winning the 1989 Grand Slam. The San Miguel team formed the core of the Northern Consolidated Cement team, which represented the Philippines in international tournaments. The NCC team also captured the 1985 PBA Reinforced Conference championship as a guest team. The players formerly of the NCC team were Hector Calma, Yves Dignadice, Samboy Lim, and Elmer Reyes. The team was coached by Norman Black, who twice won the best importee award.Norman Black, Franz Pumaren look back at San Miguel Beer's 1989 Grand Slam , Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, January 16, 2014 The San Miguel Beermen also acquired former Purefoods Hotdogs center and playing coach Ramon Fernandez, controversially trading him for Abet Guidaben with the Hotdogs.The ballad of the PBA journeyman , Jay P. Mercado, May 16, 2012
With import Michael Phelps, San Miguel won the Open Conferencethe first conference championship of the seasonagainst Formula Shell Zoom Masters led by Bobby Parks. The Beermen struggled in the group stage of the All-Filipino Conference but went into the final against Purefoods Hotdogs and won the championship series in six games. In the final conference of the season, the Reinforced Conference, the Beermen performed poorly in the group stage and won most of their games in the semifinal round. They advanced to the finals against sister team Añejo Rum 65ers. They have won their best-of-seven series against the 65ers in five games.
1996 Alaska Milkmen
The Alaska Milkmen won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the third conference of the 1995 season. The team comprised Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, Bong Hawkins, and Jeffrey Cariaso. They were coached by Tim Cone, who was the first coach to implement the Triangle Offense system in the PBA.Tim Cone planning to run triangle offense wherever he lands , Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV, September 6, 2011
In the first conference of the 1996 season, the All-Filipino Cup, the Milkmen played the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs in the best-of-seven finals. In Game 5 of the championship series, Purefoods forced the game into overtime and held a one-point lead against Alaska, 92–91, with 10.3 seconds remaining. In the next play, Alaska was inbounding from their baseline behind the basket. Jeffrey Cariaso caught the ball in an alley-oop attempt but was fouled by Bong Ravena while trying to block the shot with 0.6 seconds left. Cariaso sank both of his free throws and gave Alaska the lead, 93–92. With no timeouts left, the TJ Hotdogs threw a desperate attempt from the opposite side of their basket and missed, giving the Milkmen the All-Filipino championship.Alaska bags AFC crown, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, May 27, 1996
In the second conference, the Commissioner's Cup, the Milkmen hired Derrick Hamilton as their import for the tournament. After the league found out about Hamilton's marijuana use, the Milkmen hired their resident import Sean Chambers to replace Hamilton. The Milkmen played against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters in the finals and won the championship in seven games. In the third and final conference of the season, the Governors' Cup, the Milkmen played Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. The Milkmen won their series against the Gin Kings in five games. Johnny Abarrientos won the MVP award at the end of the season.Abarrientos is PBA's '96 MVP, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 16, 1996
2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers
In 2011, the former Alaska coach Tim Cone took over the coaching duties of the B-Meg Llamados teamlater renamed the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.Cone named B-MEG Llamados' new coach, Renee Folapan, GMA News Online, September 14, 2011 The team's core comprised twice-league MVP James Yap, Marc Pingris, and PJ Simon.Yap, Simon and Pingris – the big three for big games, The Final Score by Mico Halili, GMA News Online, February 13, 2014
In the first conference of the 2013–14 season, the Philippine Cup, the Coffee Mixers performed poorly in their first games of the tournament and were ranked in fifth place at the end of the group stage. They faced arch-rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the semifinals and won their series in seven games. They beat the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the finals and won the championship by four games to two.PBA: From a disappointing start, San Mig Coffee Mixers rise to back-to-back titles, GMA News Online, February 26, 2014