1998 PBA season

1998 PBA season
1998 PBA season
Duration	February 1, 1998 – December 9, 1998
Number of teams	8
TV partner(s)	VTV (IBC)
Draft
Top draft pick	Danny Ildefonso
Picked by	Formula Shell
Conferences
All-Filipino Cup champions	Alaska Milkmen
Runners-up	San Miguel Beermen
Commissioner's Cup champions	Alaska Milkmen
Runners-up	San Miguel Beermen
Centennial Cup champions	Mobiline Phone Pals
Runners-up	Formula Shell
Governors Cup champions	Formula Shell
Runners-up	Mobiline Phone Pals
Awards
Season MVP	Kenneth Duremdes
Seasons
< 1997 1999  >

The 1998 PBA season was the 24th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Season highlights

• The soundtrack of "Whole Lotta' Lovin" performed by the rapper Francis Magalona in a PBA Opening Ceremony was a music video sounds like the intro of "Alapaap" a song performed by Eraserheads using the theme of 24th season of the PBA.
• The PBA is in their toughest challenge with the formation of a new league called Metropolitan Basketball Association, backed by the giant network ABS-CBN, is perceived to be a threat to the 24-year existence of the PBA.^[1]
• The Alaska Milkmen won two titles during the year while Formula Shell ended a six-year title-drought by winning the final conference of the season.
• The All-pro Philippine Centennial Team, coach by Tim Cone, won the Jones Cup basketball tournament in Taipei.^[2]
• This is the only season that features four conferences, with the addition of the Centennial Cup, in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Philippine independence. The Philippine Centennial Team played as guest team in preparation for the 1998 Asian Games. The tournament was won by the Mobiline Phone Pals.
• The two-import format was revived during the Centennial Cup and the Governor's Cup.

Opening ceremonies

The muses for the participating teams are as follows:

Champions

• All-Filipino Cup: Alaska Milkmen
• Commissioner's Cup: Alaska Milkmen
• Centennial Cup: Mobiline Phone Pals
• Governor's Cup: Formula Shell Zoom Masters
• Team with best win-loss percentage: Alaska Milkmen (41-25, .621)
• Best Team of the Year: Alaska Milkmen (3rd)

Individual awards

• Most Valuable Player: Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska)
• Rookie of the Year: Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
• Sportsmanship Award: Freddie Abuda (San Miguel)
• Most Improved Player: Patrick Roy Fran (Mobiline)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jackson (Formula Shell)
• Mythical Five
  • Johnny Abarrientos (Alaska)
  • Alvin Patrimonio (Purefoods)
  • Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods)
  • Jojo Lastimosa (Alaska)
  • Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska)
• Mythical Second Team
  • Rodericko "Olsen" Racela (San Miguel)
  • Mike Mustre (San Miguel)
  • Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
  • Nelson Asaytono (San Miguel)
  • Victor Pablo (Formula Shell)
• All Defensive Team
  • Chris Jackson (Formula Shell)
  • Freddie Abuda (San Miguel)
  • Jerry Codiñera (Purefoods)
  • Glenn Capacio (Mobiline)
  • Patrick Fran (Mobiline)

Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

• Coach of the Year: Perry Ronquillo (Formula Shell)
• Mr. Quality Minutes: Rodney Santos (Alaska)
• Executive of the Year: Wilfred Uytengsu (Alaska)
• Comeback Player of the Year: Glenn Capacio (Mobiline)
• Referee of the Year: Franco Ilagan

Board of Governors

• Emilio Bernardino (Commissioner)
• Ruben Cleofe (Secretary)
• Bernabe Navarro (Chairman, La Tondeña Distillers, Inc)
• Reynaldo Gamboa (Vice-Chairman, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.)
• Manuel Encarnado (Treasurer, Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc)
• Wilfred Steven Uytengsu (Alaska Milk Corp.)
• Luis Lorenzo, Jr (Lapanday Holdings Corp.)
• Nazario Avendaño (San Miguel Corp.)
• Joaquin Trillo (Alaska Milk Corp.)
• Teodoro Dimayuga (Purefoods Corp.)
• Elmer Yanga (Republic Flour Mills Corp.)
• Roberto Eduardo (La Tondeña Distillers, Inc)
• Eliezer Capacio (Purefoods Corp.)
• Ignatius Yenko (Lapanday Holdings Corp.)

Cumulative standings

References