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 franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...
(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 Sunkis ...
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
The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The most popular team in the league, it is owned by Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. (formerly, La Tondeña Distillers, Inc.), a subsidia ...
* 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 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and ...
* 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 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and ...
(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 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and ...
(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 re ...
(
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 / Amateur career
As ...
(
San Miguel)
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 and assistant coach for the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime he was known by fans as "The S ...
(
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 spirits company Diageo. It is the world's best-selling London dry gin. G ...
)
*Best Player of the Conference:
Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Celera Duremdes (born January 31, 1974) is a Filipino retired professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association and the current commissioner of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). Nicknamed as "Captain ...
(
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
)
*Best Import of the Conference: Jeff Ward (
San Miguel)
Governors' Cup
Elimination round
Playoffs
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, bec ...
(
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S. ...
)
*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 re ...
(
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)
Individual awards
*
Most Valuable Player:
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 re ...
(Purefoods)
*
Rookie of the Year:
Andy Seigle (Mobiline)
* Sportsmanship Award:
Freddie Abuda
Freddie Abuda (born October 8, 1969) is a Filipino former basketball player. He was drafted by Purefoods, then known Coney Island Ice Cream, in the 2nd round as the 14th overall pick. Abuda played eleven seasons in the PBA, most of them with th ...
(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 Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was nicknamed The Raven during his playin ...
(Purefoods)
* Defensive Player of the Year:
Freddie Abuda
Freddie Abuda (born October 8, 1969) is a Filipino former basketball player. He was drafted by Purefoods, then known Coney Island Ice Cream, in the 2nd round as the 14th overall pick. Abuda played eleven seasons in the PBA, most of them with th ...
(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, bec ...
(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 re ...
(Purefoods)
**
Marlou Aquino
Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime he was known by fans as "The S ...
(Gordon's Gin)
**
Vince Hizon
Vince is a given name, it is the anglicisation and shortened form of the name Vincent, as well as a surname.
It may refer to:
Given name People
* Vince Agnew (born 1987), American football player
* Vince Cable (born 1943), British politician ...
(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 / Amateur career
As ...
(San Miguel)
* Mythical Second Team:
**
Noli Locsin
Luis Manuel B. 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 Philippine ...
(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 Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was nicknamed The Raven during his playin ...
(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. He was drafted by Purefoods, then known Coney Island Ice Cream, in the 2nd round as the 14th overall pick. Abuda played eleven seasons in the PBA, most of them with th ...
(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, bec ...
(Alaska)
**
Jeffrey Cariaso
Jeffrey Joaquin Cariaso is a Filipino-American coach and retired professional basketball player. He is the former head coach of the Converge FiberXers of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He also played for various PBA teams, mostly ...
(Mobiline)
**
Marlou Aquino
Marlou Bucao Aquino (born October 7, 1972) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Bacoor City Strikers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). During his prime he was known by fans as "The S ...
(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 retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball career
At the ...
(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 retired professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. Dubbed as "Mr. Excitement" because of his high-leaping, slam-dunking acts.
Basketball career
At the ...
(San Miguel)
* Referee of the Year: Ernesto de Leon
Cumulative standings
References
{{PBA seasons