1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season

The 1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season was the 7th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1996 Sunkist Orange Bottlers season
Head coachDerrick Pumaren
Owner(s)RFM Corporation
All Filipino Cup results
Record4–10
(.286)
Place7th
Playoff finishN/A
Commissioner's Cup results
Record5–6
(.455)
Place6th
Playoff finishN/A
Governor's Cup results
Record6–7
(.462)
Place5th
Playoff finishQuarterfinals
Sunkist Orange Bottlers seasons

Transactions
TRANSACTIONS
Gerardo Santiago Rookie free agent signed
Siot Tanquingcen Rookie free agent signed
Alvin Teng Acquired from Pepsi during the off-season when they traded Elpidio Villamin
Nelson Asaytono Traded to San Miguel Beermen along with a future draft pick on April 1st for Renato Agustin and rookie Mar Morelos
Rudy Distrito Return from a one-year suspension last season, but became unrestricted free agent when Asaytono was traded
Manny Victorino Signed to a short-term contract late in the season to fill the spot of the injured Bonel Balingit

Summary

After a near-grandslam finish last year, the Sunkist Orange Bottlers failed to advance in the semifinal round in all three conferences of the 1996 season. In the All-Filipino Cup, the Bottlers split their first six outings and then dropped six straight games and were ousted from the semifinals. Forward Nelson Asaytono was traded to San Miguel for 1992 MVP Ato Agustin with three games left in their elimination round schedule. [1]

Sunkist had former Alaska import Marques Bragg as their import in the Commissioner's Cup. The Orange Bottlers were tied with Purefoods and Formula Shell for the fourth and fifth slot in the semifinals, Shell makes it to the next round via higher quotient, leaving Purefoods and Sunkist to dispute the last seat. Sunkist lost to Purefoods, 76-89, in their playoff game on July 30.

Tony Harris came back as their import in the Governor's Cup, but the Hurricane could only play three games after Sunkist lost two straight matches to Shell and Purefoods. The coaching staff decided to replaced Harris with a new import Lester Neal. Sunkist finish with five wins and six losses in the eliminations and were in a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the quarterfinals. The Orange Bottlers forces a rubber match against Shell but lost in their sudden-death playoff, 102-104 on November 24.

Notable dates

March 12: Vergel Meneses unloaded 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and led a breakaway by Sunkist in the last eight minutes as the defending All-Filipino Cup champions pulled off a 93-84 victory over San Miguel Beermen and evened up their won-loss record to three wins and three losses. [2]

June 21: Marques Bragg banged in a three-point play off Ronnie Thompkins with 14.5 seconds left to snap the final tie and Sunkist recovered from an early 16-point deficit to scuttle Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, 97-93. It was the Orange Bottlers first win in three games in the Commissioners Cup. [3]

September 29: Alvin Teng put back a miss by Tony Harris with 4.7 seconds left to lift Sunkist to a thrilling 93-91 victory over defending champion Alaska Milkmen at the start of the Governors Cup. [4]

Roster
Pos. No. Player School
C 1 Manny Victorino Jose Rizal College
C 4 Bonel Balingit University of Visayas
G 5 Gerardo Santiago Mapua Tech
G 11/6 Renato Agustin (A) Lyceum
G 9 Emmanuel Victoria San Beda College
F 10 Alvin Teng Arellano University
G 14 Rudy Distrito UE
F 18 Vergel Meneses Jose Rizal College
F 6/19 Kenneth Duremdes Adamson University
G 23 Ric-Ric Marata South Western University
F 24 Eric Reyes Ateneo de Manila
C 35 Zaldy Realubit San Jose-Recoletos
C 43 Alejandro Paguinto FEU
F Marcelino Morelos (A) UE
G Siot Tanquingcen UST
F 33 Marques Bragg (C) Providence College
G 22 Tony Harris (G) University of New Orleans
G 44 Lester Neal (G)
F 25 Nelson Asaytono (T) University of Manila
PositionName/s
Head coach: Derrick Pumaren
Assistants:Gabby Velasco / Hector Calma
(T) - Traded, (A) - Acquired via trade, (C) - Commissioners Cup import, (G) - Governors Cup import'

Team Manager: Elmer Yanga

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References
  1. "Asaytono now a Beerman". Manila Standard.
  2. "Meneses stars as Sunkist blasts San Miguel". Manila Standard.
  3. "Bragg stars as Sunkist squeakes past Purefoods". Manila Standard.
  4. "Sunkist, SMB take Governor's Cup openers". Manila Standard.
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