1997 Alaska Milkmen season

The 1997 Alaska Milkmen season was the 12th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1997 Alaska Milkmen season
Head coachTim Cone
All-Filipino Cup results
Record6–8
(.429)
Place6th
Playoff finishN/A
Commissioner's Cup results
Record13–11
(.542)
Place2nd
Playoff finishFinals
Governors Cup results
Record16–6
(.727)
Place1st
Playoff finishFinals
Stats @ PBA-Online.net
Alaska Milkmen seasons

Off-season transactions
TRANSACTIONS
Boyet Fernandez Acquired from Sta.Lucia in a trade with Gilbert Reyes
Dwight Lago Acquired from Mobiline in a trade with Jeffrey Cariaso
Michael Otto Rookie free agent signed
Bryant Punzalan Acquired from Purefoods
Rodney Santos Acquired from Purefoods in a trade with Cris Bolado

Summary

Last season's Grandslam champions Alaska Milkmen opened their quest for another title-run by defeating a brand-new Mobiline Cellulars, 100-91, which had a new coach in Norman Black and 6-9 Fil-American rookie Andrew John Seigle, the number 1 overall pick, in the lone game of the PBA 23rd season opening on February 16. [1] The Milkmen struggled early with their new acquisitions still adjusting to the team. In their last game in the eliminations on April 15, Alaska beat Pop Cola, 93-85, for their 6th win against eight losses. The Milkmen missed a chance to forge a playoff with Mobiline, which pick up the fifth semifinals berth with a victory over league-leading Gordon's Gin in the second game, thus ending Alaska's streak of eight consecutive finals appearance.

Former Añejo import Sylvester Gray, who last played in the PBA in 1990, came back to play for Alaska in the Commissioners Cup. The Milkmen were the last team to enter the semifinals with five wins and five losses. Gray decided to play elsewhere starting the semifinal round and was replaced by another returning import Kevin Holland, who played for Pepsi Mega three years ago. Alaska won six of their eight matches in the semifinals and overcame San Miguel's plus 12 quotient in an 87-71 victory over the Beermen on August 17 to automatically clinch the first finals berth with their 11th win in 18 outings, leaving sister teams Gordon's Gin and San Miguel to dispute the second finals seat. [2] The Boars prevailed over the Beermen in two overtimes and went on to beat the Alaska Milkmen in the championship series, four games to two.

Sean Chambers is on his ninth year with Alaska as they defend the only crown left from last season. On October 27, pre-season acquisitions Dwight Lago and Boyet Fernandez were traded to Pop Cola for Kenneth Duremdes and Edgar Tanuan. [3] Duremdes' entry gave the Milkmen an additional firepower which they missed at the start of the season following Jeffrey Cariaso's departure to Mobiline. The Milkmen makes it to the Governors Cup semifinals outright with nine wins and five losses, they scored a 3-0 sweep over Sta.Lucia Realtors in the best-of-five semifinal series.

Seventh PBA title

Alaska retains the Governors Cup title for the fourth straight time by winning against All-Filipino Cup champion Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, four games to one. The finals victory gave the Milkmen their seventh league crown as they overtake the defunct Presto ballclub as the fourth winningest franchise.

Roster
Pos. No. Player School
G 6 Jojo Lastimosa San Jose-Recoletos
G 7 Roehl Gomez Cebu Central Colleges
F 9 Rodney Santos San Sebastian
C 12 Richard Bachmann De La Salle
G 14 Johnny Abarrientos FEU
F 16 Bong Hawkins Perpetual Help College of Rizal
F 17 Kevin Ramas Mapua Tech
F 19 Kenneth Duremdes (A) Adamson University
C 29 Michael Otto FEU
C 32 Poch Juinio UP-Diliman
C 41 Jack Tanuan (A) FEU
G 44 Merwin Castelo San Beda
C 51 Bryant Punzalan FEU
F 23 Sylvester Gray (C) Memphis State University
F 5 Kevin Holland (C) DePaul University
G 20 Sean Chambers (G) California Polytechnic State University
G 10 Boyet Fernandez (T) Colegio de San Agustin
F 2/15 Dwight Lago (T) De La Salle
PositionName/s
Head coach: Tim Cone
Assistants:Joel Banal / Aric Del Rosario
(T) - Traded, (A) - Acquired via trade, (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import'
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References
  1. "Alaska thunders past Mobiline". Manila Bulletin Online.
  2. "Alaska beats SMB, gains finals". Manila Standard.
  3. "Pop sends Duremdes, Tanuan to Alaska for Lago, Fernandez". Manila Standard.
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