1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals

The 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals was the best-of-7 series basketball championship of the 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The Alaska Milkmen and Formula Shell Zoom Masters played for the 64th championship contested by the league.

1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals
TeamCoachWins
Alaska Milkmen Tim Cone 4
Formula Shell Zoom Masters Chito Narvasa 3
DatesAugust 27 - September 10, 1996
MVPBong Hawkins
TelevisionVintage Sports (IBC)
Radio networkDZRH

The Alaska Milkmen won against the Formula Shell Zoom Masters in a thrilling seven-game series, grabbing their second championship for the season.[1]

Qualification

AlaskaFormula Shell
Finished 82 (.800), 1stEliminationsFinished 55 (.500), tied for 3rd
Finished 144 (.778), 1stSemifinalsFinished 108 (.556), 3rd
PlayoffWon against Ginebra, 89-86

Series scoring summary

Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Wins
Alaska 829377797085834
Shell 858685766388773
Venue CunetaAranetaCunetaCunetaAranetaCunetaCuneta

Games summary

Game 1

August 27
7:30 pm
Alaska Milkmen 82, Formula Shell 85
Shell leads series, 1-0
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City

Shell trailed by 14 points, 48-62, when Ken Redfield and Jolly Escobar teamed up as the Gas kings pulled even at 70-all at the start of the final period. Benjie Paras' jumper gave Shell a 78-76 lead but Jojo Lastimosa knocked in a booming triple to give the advantage back to Alaska, the lead change hands two more times before Paras and Peter Naron combined for five straight points for an 85-81 cushion going into the final two minutes, Lastimosa converted on a technical free throw to cut the deficit down, the Milkmen had the opportunity when Ken Redfield fouled out with 39.6 remaining, a block by Paras on Jeffrey Cariaso with 30 seconds left signalled the doom for the Milkmen as they bungled on their next offensive play.

Game 2

August 30
7:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 93, Formula Shell 86
Scoring by quarter: 24-23, 26-20, 22-23, 24-20
Pts: Sean Chambers 28
Rebs: Chambers 10
Asts: Abarrientos 7
Pts: Kenny Redfield 18
Rebs: Redfield 11
Asts: Redfield 6
Series tied, 1-1
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The Milkmen broke away early in the first half, the Alaska defense held Shell import Ken Redfield to just 18 points, the Gas kings clawed back to within four, 86-90, on two free throws by Redfield. Sean Chambers sealed the win with an alley-oop with 12.2 seconds left.

Game 3

September 1
6:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 77, Formula Shell 85
Scoring by quarter: 22-21, 17-23, 18-20, 20-21
Pts: Sean Chambers 23
Rebs: Chambers 10
Asts: Lastimosa, 3 others, 3
Pts: Kenny Redfield 35
Rebs: Redfield 19
Asts: Paras 4
Shell leads series, 2-1
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City

Ken Redfield poured in 35 points and hit a crucial three point-shot with 56.1 seconds left, the Milkmen managed to trim down the lead to 77-80 with 2:01 to go, from a 59-70 deficit at the start of the fourth quarter.

Game 4

September 3
7:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 79, Formula Shell 76
Scoring by quarter: 21-16, 24-23, 11-16, 23-21
Pts: Bong Hawkins 24
Rebs: Hawkins 14
Asts: Hawkins 4
Pts: Kenny Redfield, Benjie Paras 18
Rebs: Redfield 17
Asts: Redfield 7
Series tied, 2-2
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City

The Milkmen appeared on a verge of giving the Zoom Masters a huge 3-1 edge when it trailed 76-72 with just over a minute to go, held Shell the rest of the way with a 7-0 blast. Bong Hawkins ignited that fiery endgame run with a triple, trimming the gap to a hairline, 76-75, after an exchange of miscues, Alaska took the driver's seat as Jojo Lastimosa and Johnny Abarrientos sank two free throws each, Richie Ticzon of Shell missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the dying seconds, allowing Alaska to escaped with a come-from-behind victory.

Game 5

September 6
7:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 70, Formula Shell 63
Scoring by quarter: 11-17, 16-14, 23-12, 20-20
Pts: Sean Chambers, Bong Hawkins 14
Rebs: Chambers 10
Asts: Abarrientos 5
Pts: Kenny Redfield 24
Rebs: Redfield 14
Asts: Redfield 8
Alaska leads series, 3-2
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

In the lowest scoring game in PBA finals history, Johnny Abarrientos' jumper with 10.9 seconds left put the game beyond recall at 68-63.

Game 6

September 8
6:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 85, Formula Shell 88
Scoring by quarter: 18-22, 19-20, 23-20, 25-26
Pts: Bong Hawkins 19
Rebs: Chambers 10
Asts: Hawkins 5
Pts: Kenny Redfield 21
Rebs: Redfield 8
Asts: Redfield 10
Series tied, 3-3
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City

Alaska coach Tim Cone predicted the series will end in Game Six, for a while, the Milkmen looks headed to finish off the Zoom Masters, leading 85-79, but Shell's underrated players thwarted Alaska's bid, Richie Ticzon did an almost impossible shot to snatch the game from Alaska when the Zoom Masters regained the upper hand at 86-85. Ticzon's shot wasn't expected to go, hounded by the defenders and deep down the right side of the court, threw a prayer of a fadeaway jumper that went in, the crowd went into a frenzy as Shell celebrated after that miracle shot.

Game 7

September 10
7:00 pm
Alaska Milkmen 83, Formula Shell 77
Scoring by quarter: 12-16, 25-16, 19-21, 27-24
Pts: Sean Chambers 26
Rebs: Juinio 11
Asts: Chambers, Hawkins 4
Pts: Kenny Redfield 33
Rebs: Redfield 16
Asts: Redfield 6
Alaska wins series, 4-3
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City

Jojo Lastimosa's insurance free throws with 9.6 seconds left settled the issue as the Milkmen took an 81-77 advantage, the Zoom Masters trailed by as much as 10 points, 75-65, entering the closing minutes, but a 10-0 blast anchored by best import Kenny Redfield's five points, locked the count at 75-all with 2:20 remaining, Bong Hawkins and Jojo Lastimosa provided the backbreaking jumpers giving Alaska a 79-75 lead with 1:23 to go.

1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions

Alaska Milkmen
Fifth title

Awards

Rosters

Alaska Milkmen roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
G/F 4 Castelo, Merwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 186 lb (84 kg) San Beda
G 5 Reyes, Gilbert 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Ateneo de Manila
G/F 6 Lastimosa, Jojo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) San Jose-Recoletos
G 7 Gomez, Roehl 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) University of Cebu
F/C 12 Bachmann, Richard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) La Salle
G 14 Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Far Eastern
F 16 Hawkins, Bong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) PHCR
C 17 Ramas, Kevin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Mapua Tech
F 20 Chambers, Sean (I) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (88 kg) California State
G/F 22 Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sonoma State
C 24 Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 260 lb (118 kg) NU
C 31 Pineda, Giovanni 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Adamson
C 32 Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) State U
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Import
  • Injured
Formula Shell Zoom Masters roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
G 00 Santos, Rommel 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Staten Island
F/C 3 Redfield, Kenny (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Michigan State
G 5 Magsanoc, Ronnie  5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 155 lb (70 kg) State U
G 6 Guanio, Joey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) State U
F 8 Lim, Jojo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 186 lb (84 kg) University of Visayas
G 10 Ticzon, Richie 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Ateneo de Manila
F 11 Naron, Peter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) University of Visayas
G 12 Marzan, Porferio 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) University of Baguio
C 14 Paras, Benjie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) State U
F 17 Saldaña, Terry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Letran (Jrs)
G/F 20 Lago, Elmer 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 188 lb (85 kg) La Salle
F/C 32 Escobar, Jolly 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) UE
F 33 Pablo, Victor 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Far Eastern
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Perry Ronquillo

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Import
  • Injured

Broadcast notes

GamePlay-by-playAnalystCourtside reporters
Game 1Sev SarmentaAndy JaoAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 2Ed PicsonQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 3Noli EalaAndy JaoAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 4Sev SarmentaQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 5Ed PicsonAndy JaoAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 6Sev SarmentaQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 7Ed PicsonAndy JaoAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
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References

  1. "Alaska wins PBA crown". Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, September 11, 1996.
  2. "Bong Hawkins Finals MVP". Manila Standard, September 12, 1996.
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