1998 Pop Cola 800s season

The 1998 Pop Cola 800s season was the 9th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1998 Pop Cola 800s season
Head coach	Norman Black
Owner(s)	RFM Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	11–11 (.500)
Place	3rd
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	7–8 (.467)
Place	3rd
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Governor's Cup results
Record	8–7 (.533)
Place	5th
Playoff finish	N/A
Pop Cola 800s seasons

Off-season transactions

TRANSACTIONS
Ali Peek ^Drafted Rookie, 3rd overall pick
Brixter Encarnacion ^Drafted Rookie, 4th overall pick
Jasper Ocampo ^Drafted Rookie
Jessie Cabanayan ^Drafted Rookie

Summary

After two years and six conferences of non-semifinal appearances, Pop Cola finally made it to the semifinal round in coach Norman Black's first full season with the RFM ballclub. [1] The 800s placed third in the All-Filipino Cup by winning their one-game battle with Sta.Lucia for third place.

NBA journeyman Sean Higgins was Pop Cola's import in the Commissioner's Cup, Higgins lasted eight games and was replaced by Marcus Liberty, who led the 800s to three straight wins and an outright semifinals berth. After the eliminations, Liberty went back to the States to settle a family problem. Sherell Ford, a legitimate NBA first round pick, plane in for the best-of-five semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen and scored 42 points in Pop Cola's 97-106 loss in Game one. The Beermen easily won in Game two and Pop Cola coach Norman Black decided for the team to replaced Ford. Assistant coach Alfrancis Chua recommended Marcus Timmons, who played for him at Tanduay in the PBL, Timmons' efforts were not enough to hold back the Beermen in the 800s' 79-92 loss in Game three. After Timmons left for Australia, coach Norman Black was forced to play in their game against Formula Shell for third place, Black makes history by becoming the oldest import to play in the league at age 41, leading his team to an 84-80 win over Shell.

Pop Cola had a pair of Victor Page and Paul Graham as their import for the Centennial Cup. After three games, Page was replaced by the comebacking Tony Harris, who led the 800s to four wins in eight games he played before a fracture in his right hand cut short his stint and was replaced by David Booth in their second outing in the Governor's Cup. Pop Cola lost their last game to Purefoods, 95-104 in overtime and the 800s missed out a semifinals berth, finishing one game behind the four semifinalist with eight wins and seven losses.

Notable dates

February 10: Pop Cola pick up their first win of the season after two losses to San Miguel and Alaska by winning over Formula Shell, 88-74. [2]

March 21: Pop Cola smothered a weary Sta.Lucia five, 78-70, for its second straight win in the All-Filipino Cup semifinals. The 800s improved their won-loss record to 7-6. [3]

Roster

Pos. No. Player School F 00 Vergel Meneses Jose Rizal College C 2 Ali Peek Saint Mary's College C 4 Bonel Balingit University of Visayas F 5 Brixter Encarnacion San Sebastian G 6 Jessie Cabanayan University of Baguio G 7 Jasper Ocampo San Sebastian G 9 Emmanuel Victoria San Beda G 10 Boyet Fernandez University of San Agustin F 11 Marcelino Morelos UE F 15 Dwight Lago De La Salle F 33 Nicholas Belasco Notre Dame College C 35 Zaldy Realubit San Jose Recoletos F 3 Sean Higgins (C) University of Michigan F 32 Marcus Liberty (C) University of Illinois F Sherell Ford (C) University of Illinois F Marcus Timmons (C) Southern Illinois University F 24 Norman Black (C) Saint Joseph's University G Victor Page (G) Georgetown University G 8 Paul Graham (G) University of Ohio G 22 Tony Harris (G) University of New Orleans G David Booth (G) DePaul University Position Name/s Head coach:  Norman Black Assistants: Alfrancis Chua (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

_{Team Manager: Elmer Yanga}

References

1. "Despite defeat to Alaska Milk, Pop Cola makes it". Manila Standard.
2. "As Pop ends losing streak, Castillo snaps jinx, but Cabanayan steals show". Manila Standard.
3. "Pop Cola whips SLR 5 without Meneses". Manila Standard.