1997 PBA Governors' Cup finals

The 1997 PBA Governors Cup finals was the best-of-7 basketball championship series of the 1997 PBA Governors Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The Alaska Milkmen and Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies played for the 68th championship contested by the league.

1997 PBA Governors Cup finals
TeamCoachWins
Alaska Milkmen Tim Cone 4
Purefoods Carne Norte Eric Altamirano 1
DatesDecember 5–14, 1997
MVPJohnny Abarrientos
TelevisionVTV (IBC)
Radio networkDWFM
PBA Governors Cup finals chronology
1996
1998 >
PBA finals chronology

The Alaska Milkmen won against Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 4 games to 1, to retain the Governor's Cup title for the 4th straight time.

Johnny Abarrientos won on his second back to back PBA finals MVP in Governors Cup finals.

Qualification

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Alaska Purefoods
Finished 9–5 (.643), tied for 1st Eliminations Finished 8–6 (.571), 2nd
Qualified outright Quarterfinals defeated 5th seed Mobiline
defeated Sta. Lucia, 3–0 Best-of-5 semifinals defeated San Miguel, 3–2

Series scoring summary

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Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Wins
Alaska 76 85 96 92 94 4
Purefoods 87 79 85 75 66 1
Venue Araneta Cuneta Cuneta Araneta Cuneta

Games summary

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Game 1

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The Beefies ripped the game wide open with a 16–9 burst to take a commanding 53–41 spread. The Milkmen were able to bring down the lead to just four, 55–59. Import Mike Jones came back at the start of the fourth as the Beefies coasted to a 74–64 lead.[1]

Game 2

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The Milkmen kept their composure with every Beefies rally, Johnny Abarrientos had two key baskets in an 8–3 run that finally quelled another Beefies offensive.[2]

Game 3

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December 9
Alaska Milkmen 96, Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies 85
Pts: Sean Chambers 26 Pts: Alvin Patrimonio 27
Alaska leads series, 2–1

The Beefies took a 64–61 advantage on an 18–6 run, but the Milkmen, behind Kenneth Duremdes and Sean Chambers took matters into their own hands in the remainder of the third period, giving Alaska a 73–65 lead going into the final quarter. The Beefies could not get closer than seven points at 84–91, entering the last two minutes.[3]

Game 4

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December 12
Alaska Milkmen 92, Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies 75
Alaska leads series, 3–1

Game 5

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December 14
Alaska Milkmen 94, Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies 66
Scoring by quarter: 27–10, 24–17, 22–22, 21–17
Alaska wins series, 4–1

Alaska jumped to a 27–10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Beefies played minus injured import Mike Jones and they could not sink a decent number of shots from the field, a 14–0 start by the Milkmen in the second period gave them a 31-point spread, 41–10, as Alaska positioned itself to an early victory party in the first half against a demoralized Beefies Then Johnny Abarrientos on his back to back second Finals MVP and Alaska captures a back to back 2 peat champs seventh title.[4]

1997 PBA Governors Cup Champions

Alaska Milkmen
Seventh title

Rosters

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Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G/F 6   Lastimosa, Jojo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) USJ–R
G 7   Gomez, Roehl 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Cebu
G/F 9   Santos, Rodney 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) San Sebastian
F/C 12   Bachmann, Dickie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) De La Salle
G 14   Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern
F 16   Hawkins, Bong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UPHSD
C 17   Ramas, Kevin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Mapúa
F 19   Duremdes, Kenneth 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Adamson
G/F 20   Chambers, Sean (I) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Cal Poly
C 29   Otto, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Far Eastern
C 32   Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
C 41   Tanuan, Jack 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Far Eastern
G/F 44   Castelo, Merwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) San Beda
C 51   Punzalan, Bryant 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Far Eastern
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  •   Injured
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G/F 1   Ravena, Bong 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) UE
G/F 3   Lago, Elmer 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle
F 5   Reyes, Edmund 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST
F 7   Evangelista, Rey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST
G 8   Sasuman, Genesis 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Letran
G 10   Pumaren, Dindo 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) De La Salle
C 11   Feihl, Edward Joseph 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) Adamson
F 16   Patrimonio, Alvin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mapúa
G 19   Ang, Freche 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) USLS
G/F 24   Jones, Mike (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Rutgers
C 44   Codinera, Jerry 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) UE
C 55   Cabatu, Sonny 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) PSBA
F 88   Mosqueda, Cadel 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Arellano
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  •   Injured

Broadcast notes

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Game Play-by-play Analyst
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5

References

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  1. ^ "Purefoods takes jumpstart". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Alaska evens series at 1–1". Manila Standard.
  3. ^ "Alaska takes 2–1 lead". Manila Standard.
  4. ^ "Amazing Alaska keeps title". Manila Standard.
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