The 1998 PBA season was the 24th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Board of governors
Executive committee Emilio P. Bernardino, Jr. (Commissioner) Bernabe L. Navarro, Jr. (Chairman, representing Ginebra San Miguel) Reynaldo G. Gamboa (Vice-Chairman, representing Formula Shell Zoommasters) Manuel M. Encarnado (Treasurer, representing Sta. Lucia Realtors)
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 Gordon's Gin Boars/Ginebra San Miguel La Tondeña Distillers, Inc. Bernabe Navarro, Jr. Roberto Eduardo Mobiline Phone Pals Lapanday Holdings Corporation Luis P. Lorenzo Jr. Ignatius F. Yenko Pop Cola 800s RFM Corporation Elmer Yanga Philip Prieto Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs Purefoods Corporation Teodoro Dimayuga Eliezer Capacio San Miguel Beermen San Miguel Corporation Nazario Avendaño Jose Jara Sta. Lucia Realtors Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation Manuel Encarnado
Season highlights The PBA is in their toughest challenge with the formation of a new league called Metropolitan Basketball Association, backed by the giant network ABS-CBN, and is perceived to be a threat to the 24-year existence of the PBA. The Alaska Milkmen won two titles during the year while Formula Shell ended a six-year title-drought by winning the final conference of the season. For the third time in every four years, an All-pro squad to be known as Philippine Centennial Team will be given a task to win the basketball gold in the Asian Games, slated in December in Bangkok, Thailand. Alaska coach Tim Cone was chosen to handle to national team and pick the pro cagers to comprise the 12-man lineup. The Centennial team participated in the Jones Cup basketball tournament in Taipei and won their third championship. This is the only season that features four conferences with the addition of the Centennial Cup in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Philippine independence. The Philippine Centennial Team played as guest team in preparation for the 1998 Asian Games. The tournament was won by the Mobiline Phone Pals. The two-import format was revived during the Centennial Cup and the Governor's Cup.
Opening ceremonies The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
Team Muse Alaska Milkmen Antoiniette Enciso and Maricris Fernandez Formula Shell Zoom Masters Janine Hermann Gordon's Gin Boars Michelle Aldana Mobiline Phone Pals Sunshine Cruz Pop Cola 800s Bea and Valentin of Eat Bulaga fame Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies Cris Villonco San Miguel Beermen G Toengi Sta. Lucia Realtors Sheryl Brahman
Champions All-Filipino Cup: Alaska Milkmen Commissioner's Cup: Alaska Milkmen Centennial Cup: Mobiline Phone Pals Governor's Cup: Formula Shell Zoom Masters Team with best win–loss percentage: Alaska Milkmen (41–25, .621) Best Team of the Year: Alaska Milkmen (3rd)
All-Filipino Cup
Elimination round
Semifinal round
Third place playoff
Finals
Finals MVP: Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska) Best Player of the Conference: Nelson Asaytono (San Miguel)
Commissioner's Cup
Elimination round
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
|}*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.
Semifinals
Third place playoff
Finals
Finals MVP: Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska) Best Player of the Conference: Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska) Best Import of the Conference: Devin Davis (Alaska)
Centennial Cup
Elimination round
Playoffs
Governors' Cup
Elimination round
Semifinal round
Third place playoffs
Finals
Finals MVP: Benjie Paras (Shell) Best Player of the Conference: Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods) Best Import of the Conference: Silas Mills (Mobiline)
Individual awards Most Valuable Player: Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska) Rookie of the Year: Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel) Sportsmanship Award: Freddie Abuda (San Miguel) Most Improved Player: Patrick Fran (Mobiline) Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jackson (Formula Shell) Mythical Five Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska) Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods) Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods) Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska) Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska) Mythical Second Team Rodericko "Olsen" Racela (San Miguel) Mike Mustre (San Miguel) Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel) Nelson Asaytono (San Miguel) Victor Pablo (Formula Shell) All Defensive Team Chris Jackson (Formula Shell) Freddie Abuda (San Miguel) Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods) Glenn Capacio (Mobiline) Patrick Fran (Mobiline)
Awards given by the PBA Press Corps Coach of the Year: Perry Ronquillo (Formula Shell) Mr. Quality Minutes: Rodney Santos (Alaska) Executive of the Year: Wilfred Uytengsu (Alaska) Comeback Player of the Year: Glenn Capacio (Mobiline) Referee of the Year: Franco Ilagan
Board of Governors Emilio Bernardino (Commissioner) Ruben Cleofe (Secretary) Bernabe Navarro (Chairman, La Tondeña Distillers, Inc) Reynaldo Gamboa (Vice-Chairman, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.) Manuel Encarnado (Treasurer, Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc) Wilfred Steven Uytengsu (Alaska Milk Corp.) Luis Lorenzo, Jr (Lapanday Holdings Corp.) Nazario Avendaño (San Miguel Corp.) Joaquin Trillo (Alaska Milk Corp.) Teodoro Dimayuga (Purefoods Corp.) Elmer Yanga (Republic Flour Mills Corp.) Roberto Eduardo (La Tondeña Distillers, Inc) Eliezer Capacio (Purefoods Corp.) Ignatius Yenko (Lapanday Holdings Corp.)
Cumulative standings Team GP W L PCTAlaska Milkmen 66 41 25 .621San Miguel Beermen 74 43 31 .581Formula Shell Zoom Masters / Super Unleaded 61 31 30 .508Pop Cola 800s 54 27 27 .500Mobiline Phone Pals 54 27 27 .500Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies / Tender Juicy Hotdogs 59 27 32 .458Sta. Lucia Realtors 49 22 27 .449Gordon's Gin Boars / Ginebra Kings 49 18 31 .368Philippine Centennial Team 8 1 7 .125
References