1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers season

The 1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers season was the second season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team was known as Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs in the Third Conference.

1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers season
Head coachYeng Guiao
Owner(s)Cosmos Bottling Corporation
(A subsidiary of RFM Corporation)
First Conference results
Record12–10
(54.5%)
Place3rd
Playoff finishSemifinals
All-Filipino Conference results
Record15–10
(60%)
Place2nd
Playoff finishFinals
Third Conference results
Record4–7
(36.4%)
Place7th
Playoff finishEliminated
Diet Sarsi Sizzlers seasons
← 1990
1992 →

Draft pick

RoundPickPlayerDetails
2Django RiveraUnsigned

Occurrences

Sizzlers' former import Lewis Lloyd replaces Kenny Sanders after Diet Sarsi lost their first game, 83-98 to Presto Tivoli. Lloyd led his team to one victory before getting injured and was replaced by Bernard Thompson.

On April 14, the Sizzlers signed up Purefoods' back-up center Jack Tanuan, whose contract with the Hotdogs expired a week before.

The PBA office fined the RFM franchise P50,000 and Purefoods forward Alvin Patrimonio P10,000 for tampering a contract.

Beginning the Third Conference, Diet Sarsi change its team name to Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs, a brand the RFM Company has been carrying during their amateur days.

Notable dates

March 7: Diet Sarsi snapped a four-game winning run of erstwhile unbeaten Purefoods in a 103-96 win. Al Solis, a former hotdogs who played a big role in their last year's title-conquest, hit a jumper off a foul by Elmer Reyes and completed a three-point play to give Sarsi a six-point cushion with 2:39 left in the game. [1]

July 4: The Sizzlers raise their won-loss record to six wins and one defeat and on top of the standings in the All-Filipino Conference, dealing Purefoods its first loss in five games by winning over the Tender Juicy Hotdogs, 102-98. [2]

July 14: Al Solis pumped-in a running shot that banked off the board and went in to lift Diet Sarsi to a 105-104 triumph over San Miguel Beermen. Solis had taken possession at midcourt from Yoyoy Villamin who was hounded by Romy Lopez at the baseline. Then the Sarsi guard, who was still 25 meters from the goal, dribbled past Renato Agustin and heaved that shot from about 23 feet, erasing a 102-104 deficit and giving them their seventh win in nine games. Solis' last-second three-pointer spoiled a career-high 44-point production by Beermen' Ato Agustin. San Miguel put the game under protest as coach Norman Black contested that the clock didn't move when Solis received the inbound pass, but the Beermen later decided not to file a protest and accepted their second loss from the Sizzlers. [3]

Runner-up finish

In only their fifth conference so far, Diet Sarsi makes it to the finals for the first time. The Sizzlers defeated San Miguel Beermen, 100-95, in a playoff game on August 20 as they'll face corporate rival Purefoods for the All-Filipino crown.

The Sizzlers took a 2-1 series lead and a win away from winning their first title, the Tender Juicy Hotdogs came back to win the last two games to finally ended their frustrations on winning the elusive All-Filipino championship.

Roster

Diet Sarsi roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
C5 Cabatu, Sonny6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)PSBA
G/F6 Cui, Ricardo6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Lyceum
G/F7 Macaraya, Edgar6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)San Sebastian
G8 Solis, Al5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)Visayas
F/C13 Villamin, Elpidio6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
G14 Loyzaga, Joey6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)San Beda
F17 Saldaña, Terry6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Letran
G23 Marata, Ric-Ric5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)Southwestern-U
G25 Jarencio, Pido5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)UST
F26 De Guzman, Andy6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)Far Eastern
C41 Tanuan, Jack6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Far Eastern
G51 Fabiosa, Bernie5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)UE
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Roehl Nadurata
Team manager
  • Elmer Yanga

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Transactions

Trades

Off-seasonTo Alaska Milkmen
Elmer Reyes
To Diet Sarsi
Elpidio Villamin
Off seasonTo Alaska Milkmen
Nap Hatton
To Diet Sarsi
Ricardo Marata

Additions

NameDeal InformationFormer team
Al SolisOffered a two-year package worth 2.8 million contract which Purefoods didn't matchPurefoods
Edgar MacarayaRookie Free AgentN/A
Jack TanuanSigned upon his end of contract with Purefoods on April 1991Purefoods
Bernie FabiosaSigned in the All-Filipino Conference

Subtractions

NAME#POSHTCOLLEGEREASON
Joseph Pelaez11C6"5'University of ManilaRelease by Sarsi upon signing Jack Tanuan

Recruited imports

NameConferenceNo.Pos.Ht.CollegeDuration
Kenny SandersFirst Conference33Center-Forward6"4'George Mason UniversityFebruary 19 (one game)
Lewis Lloyd32Center-Forward6"4'Drake UniversityFebruary 24 (one game)
Bernard Thompson34Center-Forward6"4'Fresno State UniversityMarch 3 to May 9
Kelvin UpshawThird Conference77Guard6"1'University of UtahSeptember 15 to October 29

References