The 1998 PBA Governors Cup finals was the best-of-7 basketball championship series of the 1998 PBA Governors Cup, and the conclusion of the conference playoffs. The Formula Shell Super Unleaded and Mobiline Phone Pals played for the 71st championship contested by the league and a rematch of their one-game finale in the 1998 PBA Centennial Cup.
Formula Shell wins their third PBA title and their first in six years, with a 4–3 series victory over the Mobiline Phone Pals.
Benjie Paras won his first PBA Finals MVP in Governors' Cup Finals.
Qualification ShellMobilineFinished 9–6 (.600) EliminationsFinished 9–6 (.600)Finished 12–9 (.571) SemifinalsFinished 12–9 (.571)Won against San Miguel, 87–83 PlayoffWon against Purefoods, 84–80
Series scoring summary TeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7WinsFormula Shell 110 67 78 109 81 80 93 4Mobiline 90 94 81 97 88 77 91 3
Games summary
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Silas Mills and Tee McClary combined for the last four points of the Phone Pals after Shell briefly took the upper hand on John Best' jumper, 78–77.
Game 4
Game 5
Glenn Capacio came up with a clutch basket in the final 30 seconds after Shell threatened at 81–82 with 2:01 left on back-to-back triples by Donald Williams. Earlier, five straight free throws by Mills and Tee McClary gave the Mobiline Phone Pals an 82–75 lead.
Game 6
Game 7
Benjie Paras fired 12 of his 18 points in the final quarter as he had all the Zoom Masters' output in an 8–3 run which gave Shell the lead, 90–89, time down to 1:33, Gerry Esplana's fadeaway jumper with 27 ticks left put them in front by three, 92–89. Mobiline had a chance to win it all at the buzzer but Patrick Fran missed a potential game-winning three-point shot with a second left after failing to give the ball to Silas Mills. Shell survived a Mobiline' all-time finals record of 14 three-point shots made, John Best led the Zoom Masters with 31 points, Silas Mills went 6-of-8 from the three-point area to finish with 29 points for the Phone Pals. Benjie Paras on his first Finals MVP and Formula Shell captures on his championship third title.
1998 PBA Governors Cup Champions Formula Shell Super Unleaded Third title
Rosters
Broadcast notes Game Play-by-play Analyst Courtside ReportersGame 1 Ed Picson Andy Jao Ina Raymundo, Anthony Suntay and Ria TanjuatcoGame 2 Noli Eala Quinito Henson Ria TanjuatcoGame 3 Ed Picson Andy Jao Ronnie Nathanielsz Jannelle So and Ria TanjuatcoGame 4 Noli Eala Quinito Henson NoneGame 5 Ed Picson Andy Jao Ria TanjuatcoGame 6 Mon Liboro Yeng Guiao Paolo Trillo and Seppie CristobalGame 7 Noli Eala Yeng Guiao Randy Sacdalan, Paolo Trillo, Seppie Cristobal and Barry Pascua
References
External links PBA official website