1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup

The 1998 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 1998 PBA season. It started on May 22 and ended on August 14, 1998. 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.

1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup
DurationMay 22 – August 14, 1998
TV partner(s)VTV (IBC)
Finals
ChampionsAlaska Milkmen
Runners-upSan Miguel Beermen
Awards
Best PlayerKenneth Duremdes
(Alaska Milkmen)
Best ImportDevin Davis
(Alaska Milkmen)
Finals MVPKenneth Duremdes
(Alaska Milkmen)
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 once and against teams in the other group twice; 11 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 two teams will automatically qualify to the semifinals, while the next four teams will have a crossover quarterfinal round.
  • Quarterfinals:
    • QF1: #3 vs. #6, with #3 having the twice-to-beat advantage
    • QF2: #4 vs. #5, with #4 having the twice-to-beat advantage
  • Best-of-five semifinals:
    • SF1: QF1 vs. #4
    • SF2: QF2 vs. #3
  • One-game third-place playoff: losers of the semifinals
  • Best-of-seven finals: winners of the semifinals

Elimination round

Team standings

PosTeamWLPCTGBQualification
1Alaska Milkmen92.818Advance to semifinals
2Pop Cola 800s65.545[a]3
3San Miguel Beermen65.545[a]3Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals
4Purefoods TJ Hotdogs56.455[b]4
5Formula Shell Zoom Masters56.455[b]4Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals
6Mobiline Phone Pals56.455[b]4
7Ginebra San Miguel47.364[c]5
8Sta. Lucia Realtors47.364[c]5
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:

Alaska was unbeaten in their first eight outings before losing to Mobiline and San Miguel in succession. Pop Cola clinched the 2nd seed with a superior quotient over San Miguel Beermen.[1]

Bracket

Quarterfinals
(Higher seeds twice-to-beat)
Semifinals
(Best-of-5 series)
Finals
(Best-of-7 series)
1Alaska3
4Purefoods84785Formula Shell2
5Formula Shell96871Alaska4
3San Miguel2
2Pop Cola0
3San Miguel953San Miguel3
6Mobiline89Third place
2Pop Cola84
5Formula Shell80

Quarterfinals

(3) San Miguel vs. (6) Mobiline

July 17
San Miguel Beermen 95, Mobiline Phone Pals 89
San Miguel wins series in one game

(4) Purefoods vs. (5) Shell

July 19
Purefoods TJ Hotdogs 78, Formula Shell 87
Shell wins series in two games

Semifinals

(1) Alaska vs. (5) Shell

(2) Pop Cola vs. (3) San Miguel

July 24
San Miguel Beermen 92, Pop Cola 800s 79
San Miguel wins series, 3–0

Third-place playoff

Finals

August 14
Alaska Milkmen 85, San Miguel Beermen 74
Alaska wins series, 4–2

References