The 1997 PBA season was the 23rd season of the
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines, composed of twelve company-branded Franchising, franchise teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia ...
(PBA).
Board of governors
Executive committee
*
Emilio P. Bernardino, Jr. (Commissioner)
* Nazario L. Avendaño (Chairman, representing San Miguel Beermen)
* Bernabe L. Navarro, Jr. (Vice-Chairman, representing Gordon's Gin Boars)
* Reynaldo G. Gamboa (Treasurer, representing Formula Shell Zoommasters)
Teams
Season highlights
*For the first time in league history, the top two picks of the Annual Rookie draft were born outside the Philippines, 6–9
Andrew John Seigle, and
Nic Belasco
Nicholas M. Bayaca Belasco (born December 10, 1973) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player who last played for the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 2nd overall by Sunki ...
were selected at numbers one and two, respectively.
*Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys and Gordon's Gin Boars (formerly Ginebra) played in the All-Filipino Cup finals. This is only the second time the two rivals meet in a championship series. Gordon's playing coach Sonny Jaworski became the oldest player to play in a PBA finals series at age 51. Purefoods rookie coach Eric Altamirano won his first title as a head mentor.
*Gordon's Gin Boars ended a six-year title drought for the La Tondeña franchise by winning the Commissioner's Cup title over defending champion Alaska Milkmen.
*The Alaska Milkmen retains the Governors' Cup title for the fourth straight time and defend the only crown left in their grandslam conquest last season. Alaska has overtaken the defunct Presto franchise as the fourth winningest ballclub in the PBA.
*Alvin Patrimonio won his fourth MVP award, tying Ramon Fernandez for the most number of MVP awards.
Opening ceremonies
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
Champions
* All-Filipino Cup:
Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys
* Commissioner's Cup:
Gordon's Gin Boars
* Governor's Cup:
Alaska Milkmen
The Alaska Aces were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) and the owner of 14 PBA championships, tied with the Magnolia Hotshots for the third ...
* Team with best win–loss percentage:
Alaska Milkmen
The Alaska Aces were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) and the owner of 14 PBA championships, tied with the Magnolia Hotshots for the third ...
(35–25, .583)
* Best Team of the Year:
Alaska Milkmen
The Alaska Aces were a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) and the owner of 14 PBA championships, tied with the Magnolia Hotshots for the third ...
(2nd)
All-Filipino Cup
Elimination round
Semifinal round
Third place playoff
Finals
*Finals MVP:
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio (born November 17, 1966) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots.
Patrimonio holds several PBA r ...
(
Purefoods)
*Best Player of the Conference:
Nelson Asaytono
Nelson Asaytono (born January 25, 1967) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who played for Purefoods, Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola, San Miguel Beer, and Red Bull in the PBA during his 17-year career.
Collegiate and amateur career
...
(
San Miguel San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, may refer to:
Places
Argentina
*San Miguel Partido
*San Miguel, Buenos Aires
* San Miguel, Catamarca
* San Miguel, Corrientes
* San Miguel, La Rioja
*San Miguel Arcángel, a Volga German colony in Adolfo Al ...
)
Commissioner's Cup
Elimination round
Semifinal round
Third place playoff
Finals
*Finals MVP:
Marlou Aquino
Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who currently serves as the team consultant for the Pangasinan Heatwaves of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime, he wa ...
(
Gordon's Gin
Gordon's is a brand of London dry gin first produced in 1769. The top markets for Gordon's are the United Kingdom, the United States and Greece. It is owned by the British multinational alcoholic beverage company Diageo. It is the world's best- ...
)
*Best Player of the Conference:
Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Celera Duremdes (born January 31, 1974) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who currently serves as the commissioner of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). Nicknamed as "Captain Marbel", Duremdes played i ...
(
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
)
*Best Import of the Conference: Jeff Ward (
San Miguel San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, may refer to:
Places
Argentina
*San Miguel Partido
*San Miguel, Buenos Aires
* San Miguel, Catamarca
* San Miguel, Corrientes
* San Miguel, La Rioja
*San Miguel Arcángel, a Volga German colony in Adolfo Al ...
)
Governors' Cup
Elimination round
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
*Team has
twice-to-beat advantage
There are a number of formats used in various levels of competition in sports and games to determine an overall champion. Some of the most common are the ''single elimination'', the ''best-of-'' series, the ''total points series'' more commonly kn ...
. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.
Semifinals
Third place playoff
Finals
*Finals MVP:
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos (born July 17, 1970) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA Most Valuable Player, ...
(
Alaska
Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...
)
*Best Player of the Conference:
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio (born November 17, 1966) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots.
Patrimonio holds several PBA r ...
(
Purefoods)
*Best Import of the Conference:
Larry Robinson
Larry Clark Robinson (born June 2, 1951) is a Canadian former ice hockey coach, executive and player. His coaching career includes head coaching positions with the New Jersey Devils (which he held on two occasions), as well as the Los Angeles Ki ...
(
San Miguel San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, may refer to:
Places
Argentina
*San Miguel Partido
*San Miguel, Buenos Aires
* San Miguel, Catamarca
* San Miguel, Corrientes
* San Miguel, La Rioja
*San Miguel Arcángel, a Volga German colony in Adolfo Al ...
)
Individual awards
*
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...
:
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio (born November 17, 1966) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots.
Patrimonio holds several PBA r ...
(Purefoods)
*
Rookie of the Year:
Andy Seigle
Andrew John Yadao Seigle (born May 15, 1972) is a Filipino-American retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a member of the Philippine national basketball team. He is the brother of Danny Seig ...
(Mobiline)
* Sportsmanship Award:
Freddie Abuda
Freddie Abuda (born October 8, 1969) is a Filipino former basketball player and assistant coach. Abuda gained the moniker The Scavenger as a large proportion of his points were the result of his scoring on a follow-up after rebounding a teammate' ...
(San Miguel)
* Most Improved Player:
Bong Ravena
Ferdinand "Bong" Ravena II (born May 22, 1970) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the TNT Tropang 5G of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was nicknamed The Raven during his playing ...
(Purefoods)
* Defensive Player of the Year:
Freddie Abuda
Freddie Abuda (born October 8, 1969) is a Filipino former basketball player and assistant coach. Abuda gained the moniker The Scavenger as a large proportion of his points were the result of his scoring on a follow-up after rebounding a teammate' ...
(San Miguel)
* Mythical Five:
**
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos (born July 17, 1970) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA Most Valuable Player, ...
(Alaska)
**
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Dale Vergara Patrimonio (born November 17, 1966) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager for the Magnolia Hotshots.
Patrimonio holds several PBA r ...
(Purefoods)
**
Marlou Aquino
Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who currently serves as the team consultant for the Pangasinan Heatwaves of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime, he wa ...
(Gordon's Gin)
**
Vince Hizon
Vicente Paul Bowie Hizon (born November 25, 1970) is an American-born Filipino retired professional basketball player. He is the former commissioner of the Filsports Basketball Association. FBA, a community-based grassroots basketball league in ...
(Gordon's Gin)
**
Nelson Asaytono
Nelson Asaytono (born January 25, 1967) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player who played for Purefoods, Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola, San Miguel Beer, and Red Bull in the PBA during his 17-year career.
Collegiate and amateur career
...
(San Miguel)
* Mythical Second Team:
**
Noli Locsin
Luis Manuel Bespejo Locsin (born October 19, 1971), better known as Noli Locsin, is a Filipino retired professional basketball player. Dubbed as "The Tank", He is best known for his playing years with the Ginebra San Miguel franchise in the Phi ...
(Gordon's Gin)
**
Dindo Pumaren
Ferdinand "Dindo" Pumaren, is a retired Filipino professional basketball player and former collegiate coach. In his professional playing career, he was nicknamed "The Bullet" due to his great passing and stealing.
Early career
Pumaren suited ...
(Purefoods)
**
Bong Ravena
Ferdinand "Bong" Ravena II (born May 22, 1970) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the TNT Tropang 5G of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was nicknamed The Raven during his playing ...
(Purefoods)
**
Jun Limpot
Zandro P. Limpot Jr. (born December 14, 1971), also known as Jun Limpot, is a Filipino former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Playing career
As a De La Salle Green Archer, Limpot led his team to two U ...
(Sta. Lucia)
**
Jerry Codiñera
Jerry Herman Codiñera (born November 14, 1966) is a Filipino coach and retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is nicknamed the "Defense Minister" for his prowess at the defensive end. He is the curre ...
(Purefoods)
* All Defensive Team:
**
Jerry Codiñera
Jerry Herman Codiñera (born November 14, 1966) is a Filipino coach and retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is nicknamed the "Defense Minister" for his prowess at the defensive end. He is the curre ...
(Purefoods)
**
Freddie Abuda
Freddie Abuda (born October 8, 1969) is a Filipino former basketball player and assistant coach. Abuda gained the moniker The Scavenger as a large proportion of his points were the result of his scoring on a follow-up after rebounding a teammate' ...
(San Miguel)
**
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos (born July 17, 1970) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA Most Valuable Player, ...
(Alaska)
**
Jeffrey Cariaso
Jeffrey Joaquin Cariaso (born September 12, 1972) is a Filipino-American professional basketball coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He also played for variou ...
(Mobiline)
**
Marlou Aquino
Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who currently serves as the team consultant for the Pangasinan Heatwaves of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime, he wa ...
(Gordon's Gin)
Awards given by the PBA Press Corps
* Coach of the Year:
Ron Jacobs (San Miguel)
* Mr. Quality Minutes:
Paul Alvarez
Paul Beleno "Bong" Alvarez (born June 15, 1968) is a Filipino former professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association and politician. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball c ...
(San Miguel)
* Executive of the Year: Simon Mossesgeld (Purefoods)
* Comeback Player of the Year:
Paul Alvarez
Paul Beleno "Bong" Alvarez (born June 15, 1968) is a Filipino former professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association and politician. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball c ...
(San Miguel)
* Referee of the Year: Ernesto de Leon
Cumulative standings
Elimination round
Playoffs
References
{{PBA seasons
PBA