1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup

The 1997 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 1997 PBA season. It started on June 13 and ended on September 7, 1997. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with a 6'8" height limit.

1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup
DurationJune 13 – September 7, 1997
TV partner(s)VTV (IBC)
Finals
ChampionsGordon's Gin Boars
Runners-upAlaska Milkmen
Awards
Best PlayerJohnny Abarrientos
(Alaska Milkmen)
Best ImportJeff Ward
(San Miguel Beermen)
Finals MVPMarlou Aquino
(Gordon's Gin Boars)
PBA Commissioner's Cup chronology
PBA conference chronology

Format

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:

  • The teams were divided into 2 groups.
  • Teams in a group will play against each other twice and against teams in the other group once; 10 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win–loss records. Ties are broken among point differentials of the tied teams. Standings will be determined in one league table; teams do not qualify by basis of groupings.
  • The top five teams after the eliminations will advance to the semifinals.[1]
  • Semifinals will be two round robin affairs with the remaining five teams. Results from the eliminations will be carried over. A playoff incentive for a finals berth will be given to the team that will win at least five of their eight semifinal games.
  • The top two teams (or the top team and the winner of the playoff incentive) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series. The next two teams (or the loser of the playoff incentive and the fourth seeded team) dispute the third-place trophy in a one-game playoff.

Elimination round

Team standings

PosTeamWLPCTGBQualification
1Gordon's Gin Boars64.600Advance to semifinals
2San Miguel Beermen64.600
3Formula Shell Zoom Masters64.600
4Sta. Lucia Realtors64.600
5Alaska Milkmen55.5001
6Mobiline Cellulars46.4002
7Pop Cola Bottlers46.4002
8Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys37.3003
Source: [citation needed]

Semifinals

Team standings

Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  • Semifinal round standings:
PosTeamWLQualification
1Alaska Milkmen62
2Gordon's Gin Boars53
3San Miguel Beermen53Qualify to Finals berth playoff[a]
4Sta. Lucia Realtors26
5Formula Shell Zoom Masters26
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:

Finals berth playoff

August 24
6:00 pm
San Miguel Beermen 100, Gordon's Gin Boars 106 (2OT)
Scoring by quarter: 20–16, 14–22, 22–17, 24–25, Overtime: 14–14, 6–12
Pts: Jeff Ward 29
Rebs: Jeff Ward 14
Asts: Olsen Racela 7
Pts: Chris King 36
Rebs: Chris King 17
Asts: Chris King 6

Third place playoff

Finals

September 7
Alaska Milkmen 79, Gordon's Gin Boars 105
Gordon's Gin wins series, 4–2

References