1998 Pop Cola 800s season

1998 Pop Cola Panthers Pop Cola 800s Norman Black All-Filipino Cup 11 11 3rd Semifinals Commissioner's Cup 7 8 3rd Semifinals Governors' Cup 8 7 5th Eliminated RFM Corporation Elmer Yanga 1997 1999 The 1998 Pop Cola 800s season was the 9th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Draft picks 1998 PBA draft RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege13Ali PeekSaint Mary's14Brixter EncarnacionSSC-Recoletos29Jasper OcampoSSC-Recoletos3Terrence BitoCal State Northridge4Jesse CabanayanBaguio 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ZYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6740%2C1863820 Despite defeat to Alaska Milk, Pop Cola makes it Manila Standard 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 replace 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iEsbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_EoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6425%2C1150979 As Pop ends losing streak, Castillo snaps jinx, but Cabanayan steals show Manila Standard 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.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7pYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2907%2C2412427 Pop Cola whips SLR 5 without Meneses Manila Standard Roster Pop Cola 800s 1998 #000000 #CE1126 #0038A8 #FFFFFF 00 Vergel Meneses F 6 3 JRU PHI 2 Ali Peek FC 6 4 Saint Mary's USA 4 Bonel Balingit C 6 9 Visayas PHI 5 Brixter Encarnacion F 6 3 San Sebastian PHI 6 Jessie Cabanayan G 5 7 Baguio PHI 7 Jasper Ocampo G 5 7 San Sebastian PHI 9 Boybits Victoria G 5 11 San Beda PHI 10 Boyet Fernandez G 5 8 San Agustin PHI 11 Marcelino Morelos F 6 2 UE PHI 15 Dwight Lago F 6 0 De La Salle PHI 33 Nic Belasco F 6 6 Notre Dame USA 35 Zaldy Realubit C 6 6 USJ-R PHI PHI Norman Black PHI Alfrancis Chua PHI Franz Pumaren PHI Elmer Yanga Transactions Recruited imports TournamentNameNumberPositionUniversity/CollegeDurationCommissioner's CupSean Higgins3ForwardUniversity of Michigan May 22 to June 16Marcus Liberty32ForwardUniversity of Illinois June 21 to July 3Sherell FordForwardUIC July 19–21Marcus TimmonsForwardSouthern Illinois July 24 (one game)Norman Black24Center-ForwardSaint Joseph's August 2 (one game)Governors' CupVictor Page12GuardGeorgetown August 28 to September 5Paul Graham8GuardOhio August 28 to November 3Tony Harris22Guard-ForwardUNO September 8 to October 9David BoothForwardDePaulOctober 16 to November 3 References Pop Cola Category:Pop Cola Panthers seasons