1999–2000 Philippine Basketball League season

The 1999–2000 season of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

1999–2000 PBL season
DurationMarch 13, 1999 – January 31, 2000
Number of teams9 + 2
TV partner(s)VTV (IBC)
Season MVPDon Allado
Paolo Mendoza
1st Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup championsWelcoat Paints
  1st Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup runners-upRed Bull
2nd Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup championsWelcoat Paints
  2nd Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup runners-upANA Water Dispenser
Seasons
← 1998-99
2000-01 →

Participating teams (coach)

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  • ANA Water Dispenser (Jimmy Mariano)
  • Blu Detergent (Binky Favis, replaced by Nat Canson)
  • Boom Laundry Master (Leo Isaac) *New team in the 2nd Challenge Cup
  • Chowking Fastfood (Leo Austria)
  • Colt 45 (Angelito Esguerra) *Left the league before the 2nd Challenge Cup
  • Dazz Dishwashing Gel (Dong Vergeire)
  • Montaña Jewels (Rex Manansala)
  • Red Bull Energy Drink (Gil Lumberio)
  • Welcoat Paints (Junel Baculi)

1999 (1st) Yakult-Challenge Cup

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Semifinal standings

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Qualified for finals
# Teams W L PCT GB
1 Welcoat Paints 15 7 .681 --
2 Red Bull Energy Drink 15 7 .681 --
3 Chowking 15 7 .681 --
4 Colt 45 12 10 .545 3
5 Blu Detergent 8 14 .363 7

Eliminated from the semifinals were Dr.J/Ana, Dazz and Montana. Red Bull defeats Chowking in a playoff game to advance in the finals series against Welcoat, the Paint Masters made it first via superior quotient.

Finals

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July 1
Welcoat Paints 80, Red Bull Energy Drink 74
Welcoat wins series, 3-0

A torrid third-quarter run and tight defense down the stretch was all it took for Welcoat to win their PBL championship as it held off Red Bull, 80-74, to complete a three-game sweep as the Paint Masters finally stepped out of the shadows of the Asia Brewery franchise Stag Pale Pilsen / Tanduay, which dominated the league the past three years before the latter ascended to the PBA this year. It was coach Junel Baculi's first PBL title since steering Hapee Toothpaste to the Import-Reinforced Conference title in 1996.[1]

1999 Vis-Min Cup

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The Vis-Min Cup is not part of the PBL's regular conference. The special hoopfest took place starting on July 18 and the Mindanao games were held in Dapitan.[2] Chowking and Blu Detergent fought for the Mindanao championship after finishing at number one and two in a group that includes Hapee Fil-Am, Dapitan Dolphins and PBL member Montaña Jewels.[3]

In the Visayas tournament held in Mandaue, Cebu City, the three non-PBL entries that joined Red Bull and Welcoat are one-time PABL champion Lhuillier Jewelers, Upland Feeds and Team Chicago Bullets.[4]

Chowking beat Blu Detergent for the Mindanao crown.[5] The fastfood kings have captured the overall championship by topping Visayas champion Red Bull, 69-60, to win the special tournament. Chowking coach Leo Austria's charges includes Allen Patrimonio, Christian Nicdao, Joel Co, Roger Yap and Ronald Saracho. The Robert F. Kuan franchise completed a championship sweep of six straight wins.

1999-2000 (2nd) Yakult-Challenge Cup

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Team standings

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Qualified for quarterfinals
# Group A W L PCT GB
1 Welcoat Paints 11 2 .847 --
2 Chowking 8 5 .615 3
3 Dazz Dishwashing Gel 6 7 .461 5
4 Boom Laundry Master 5 8 .384 6
5 Kendi Mint 4 9 .310 7

Chaz Perfume and Kendi Mint were guest teams.

# Group B W L PCT GB
1 Red Bull Energy Drink 10 3 .770 --
2 ANA Water Dispenser 10 3 .770 --
3 Blu Detergent Kings 9 4 .692 1
4 Montaña Jewels 2 11 .153 8
5 Chaz Perfume 0 13 .000 10

The top four teams had a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round, pairings were Welcoat-Kendi Mint, Ana-Boom, Red Bull-Dazz and Blu-Chowking.[6]

Welcoat and Red Bull meet in a best-of-three semifinals series while the two other winners of the quarterfinals are Ana Water Dispenser and Blu Detergent.[7] Welcoat and Ana prevailed, two games to one, in their respective series to set up a finals showdown.[8]

Finals

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January 27
Welcoat Paints 65, ANA Water Dispenser 55
January 29
Welcoat Paints 83, ANA Water Dispenser 71
January 31
Welcoat Paints 58, ANA Water Dispenser 56
Welcoat wins series, 3-0

The Paint Masters recorded their second straight "sweet sweep" with a controversial 58-56 squeaker over hard-fighting Ana Water Dispenser. ANA's Paolo Mendoza hit an off-balance three-point shot with .4 second remaining, which was nullified by the referees, saying the foul was made by Welcoat's Yancy De Ocampo before the shot, the decision of the referees not to count Mendoza's shot was loudly booed by ANA followers, had it been counted will give Ana a hairline 59-58 lead and could have prevented an outright celebration by Welcoat.[9]

Individual awards

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  • 2nd Challenge Cup:
  • Most Valuable Player: Paolo Mendoza (ANA Water Dispenser)
  • Top Newcomer: Roger Yap (Chowking)
  • Most Improved Player Award: Yancy de Ocampo (Welcoat)
  • Three Point King Award: Joel Co (Chowking)
  • Finals MVP:
  • Mythical First Team
  • Mythical Second Team
    • Kerby Raymundo (Red Bull)
    • Allan Gamboa (ANA)
    • Melchor Crisostomo (Blu)
    • Ernesto Billones (Blu)
    • Anton Villoria (Welcoat)

References

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  1. ^ "Welcoat brings out the broom for Red Bull". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Blu, Chowking draw first blood in Dapitan". Manila Standard.
  3. ^ "It's Chowking vs Blu for Mindanao crown". Manila Standard.
  4. ^ "Welcoat downs Lhuillier in Visayas". Manila Standard.
  5. ^ "Chowking rules Mindanao leg". Manila Standard.
  6. ^ "Welcoat, Ana eye semifinals". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ^ "Blu ousts Chowking". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  8. ^ "It's Ana Water vs Welcoat". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  9. ^ "Welcoat sweeps Ana in PBL tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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