1998 San Miguel Beermen season

The 1998 San Miguel Beermen season was the 24th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1998 San Miguel Beermen season
Head coach	Ron Jacobs
Owner(s)	San Miguel Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	18–10 (64.3%)
Place	2nd
Playoff finish	Finals (def. by Alaska 3–4)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	12–9 (57.1%)
Place	2nd
Playoff finish	Finals (def. by Alaska 2-4)
Governors Cup results
Record	13–12 (52%)
Place	4th
Playoff finish	Semifinals (def. by Shell)
San Miguel Beermen seasons
← 1997 1999  →

Draft picks

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College
1	2	Noy Castillo	United States	The Citadel
1	5	William Antonio	United States	Chaminade

Notable dates

February 1: San Miguel Beermen got excellent debuts from its two rookies Danny Ildefonso and Steve Smith as the Beermen pulled away with an 86-67 rout of Pop Cola at the start of the All-Filipino Cup.^[1]

April 14: San Miguel booked the first finals seat in the All-Filipino Cup with their 14th win against six losses, defeating Pop Cola, 89-69.

Runner-up finish

After two seasons of non-finals appearance, the San Miguel Beermen return to the championship series twice in the season but could only end up with runner-up finishes. The Beermen placed second behind Alaska Milkmen in the eliminations of the All-Filipino Cup with seven wins and four losses.^[2] They won eight games in the semifinals for a league-best 15-6 won-loss record. The Beermen played the Alaska Milkmen in the best-of-seven championship. In the battle between two American coaches, Ron Jacobs and Alaska's Tim Cone, the Beermen blew a 3-2 series advantage, they lost Game six by a big margin and in the deciding seventh game on May 8, the San Miguel Beermen folded up to the pressure as the game reaches its climax, losing by nine points to Alaska Milkmen, 63-72, before a jampacked crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

Main article: 1998 PBA All-Filipino Cup Finals

In the Commissioner's Cup, the Beermen bring back last year's best import Jeff Ward, who was good for only six games when coach Ron Jacobs gambled on a smaller import in the returning Lamont Strothers. The Beermen scored a 3-0 sweep over Pop Cola in the best-of-five semifinal series and went on to play the Alaska Milkmen in a championship rematch. The Milkmen paraded a taller import Devin Davis and they jump off to a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-seven finals, the Beermen were able to tie the series at two games apiece by winning Games three and four, but Alaska came back with a victory in Game five and finish off the Beermen in six games.

Main article: 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals

Roster

1998 San Miguel Beermen roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 4 Tanquingcen, Siot 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) UST C 5 Padilla, Ronilo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Cebu G 7 Mustre, Michael 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Letran F 8 Caidic, Allan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UE C 10 Ildefonso, Danny 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) National-U F 11 Asaytono, Nelson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Manila F/C 12 Dignadice, Yves 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) STI WNU F 14 Santamaria, Joey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle G 15 Naron, Edward 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Visayas G 17 Racela, Olsen 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Ateneo F 18 Dela Cruz, Art 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) San Sebastian F/C 25 Abuda, Freddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cebu F 28 Villamin, Elpidio 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) G 34 Antonio, William 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade G 42 Smith, Steven 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) US International

Head coach Ron Jacobs Pilo Pumaren Assistant coach(es) Jong Uichico Allan Caidic Legend (C) Team captain Injured

Transactions

Trades

Off-season	To Formula Shell Noy Castillo	To San Miguel Danny Ildefonso

Off-season	To Gordon's Gin Paul Alvarez	To San Miguel Steven Smith

Additions

Player	Signed	Former team
Joey Santamaria	Off-season	Mobiline Phone Pals
Elpidio Villamin		Mobiline Phone Pals

Recruited imports

Tournament	Name	Number	Position	University/College	Duration
Commissioner's Cup	Jeff Ward	21	Center-Forward	Tiffin University	May 23 to June 14
	Lamont Strothers	42	Guard-Forward	Christopher Newport	June 20 to August 14 August 30 to December 1
Commissioner's Cup Governor's Cup
Governors' Cup
	Larry Robinson	20	Guard-Forward	Centenary College	August 30 to December 1

References

1. "SMB downs Pop as PBA honors five decades' best". Manila Standard.
2. "Refs' calls get Ron Jacobs' goat". Manila Standard.