1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season

The 1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season was the 6th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft pick RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege16Aramis CalpitoSan Sebastian

Summary Under new coach Derrick Pumaren, Sta. Lucia won their first four games in the All-Filipino Cup. However, the Realtors lost their last five outings in the eliminations and dropped to five wins and six losses. In the semifinal round, the Realtors won four of their first five games, including victories over the top two teams, Alaska and San Miguel. The Realtors clinched a playoff spot for a second finals berth via win 7-of-10 semifinals incentive when they defeated Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 92–77 on April 14. Having beaten the Alaska Milkmen twice in the semifinals, the Realtors blew a golden opportunity to advance in the finals series for the first time in franchise history when they bowed to the Milkmen, 69-77, in their playoff game on April 21 for the right to face San Miguel Beermen for the All-Filipino Cup crown.

In the Commissioner's Cup, after losing their first game to San Miguel in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Sta. Lucia import Melvin Cheatum abandoned the team and left quickly; he could only score four points in a brief stint. The Realtors scored their first win in their next game, playing all-Filipino. Former Pepsi import and one-time Best Import awardee Ronnie Coleman was on his third year of duty and was tapped to play for Sta. Lucia. The Realtors ended up in last place in the conference.

Without the duo of Jun Limpot and Dennis Espino, who were members of the national team, the Realtors chalk up only one win in eight outings during the Centennial Cup, and their lone victory came after replacing imports Jo Jo English and Kirk King with the tandem of Andre Perry and Bobby Allen, who played for Sta. Lucia three years prior. With one game left in their Centennial Cup campaign, Allen was replaced by Joseph Temple, who teamed up with Perry for the rest of their games in the Governor's Cup. The Realtors won four of their next seven matches, but still fell short and placed last.

Notable dates February 3: Limpot scored a game-high 34 points as the Realtors thrashed the Shell Zoom Masters, 85-69.

February 15: Sta. Lucia led by 20 points in the second half and coasted to an 83-72 rout off Pop Cola for its fourth straight win and leadership in the All-Filipino Cup.

March 24: Ronnie Magsanoc canned two free throws off Johnny Abarrientos' foul to hold back title favorite Alaska Milkmen, 77-74, for its second win in three starts in the semifinals.

March 27: The Realtors bested San Miguel Beermen for the first time in the season, 78-70, with Jack Santiago filling Magsanoc's shoes nicely as he scored a career high 18 points.

Roster

Transactions

Recruited imports TournamentNameNumberPositionUniversity/collegeDurationCommissioner's CupMelvin Cheatum 44 ForwardUniversity of Alabama May 23 (one game)Ronnie Coleman 24 CenterSouthern California May 30 to July 7Governors' CupJo Jo English 3 Guard-ForwardSouth Carolina August 28 to September 6Kirk King 32 ForwardUniversity of Connecticut August 28 to September 6Andre Perry 21 ForwardUniversity of Alabama September 13 to November 3Robert Francis Allen 44 GuardUTPA September 13-26Joseph Temple 24 GuardUniversity of San Diego September 29 to November 3

References

1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season

Bron en licentie