1999 Tanduay Rhum Masters season

The 1999 Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters season was the first season of the new franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1999 Tanduay Rhum Masters season
Head coachAlfrancis Chua
General ManagerDavid de Joya
Owner(s)Lucio "Bong" Tan Jr.
All-Filipino Cup results
Record15–12
(55.6%)
Place3rd seed
Playoff finishRunner-up (Shell 2-4)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record5–4
(55.6%)
Place5th seed
Playoff finishQF (lost to SMB)
Governor's Cup results
Record9–5
(64.3%)
Place2nd seed
Playoff finishSemis (lost to SMB)
Tanduay Rhum Masters seasons
2000  →

Draft pick

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Round Pick Player Nationality College
1 1 Sonny Alvarado   Puerto Rico Texas-Austin

League return

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A multi-titled ballclub in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), having won several championships since it resurfaced in 1995, the Tanduay Gold Rhum Masters, now owned by Tanduay Distillers, Inc., makes a grand return to the PBA after a 12-year absence.

Tanduay was allowed to elevate six players from their farm team in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), these are Eric Menk, Mark Telan, Chris Cantonjos, Jomer Rubi, Alvin Magpantay and Derrick Bughao. The Rhum Masters also added Bobby Jose, a PBA returnee who played for Tanduay in the PBL for the past two seasons. The team will be handled by their winning PBL coach Alfrancis Chua. Two more players from their farm team, Rene Alforque and Jorge Gallent soon join them in the pro ranks.

Occurrences

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On March 8, The living legend of Philippine Basketball, Senator Robert Jaworski on his 53rd birthday, formally joined the Tanduay ballclub as Team Consultant and Chief Endorser/Spokesman of their liquor product in a press conference held at the Century Park Hotel, there were speculations that Jaworski might appear in one game for Tanduay and play one last time in the PBA.[1]

Nigerian import Ime Uduok played one game in the Commissioner's Cup before being replaced by Ira Clark.

Finals stint

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Seeded third after 16 games in the eliminations of the All-Filipino Cup and tied with Alaska and Shell with nine wins and seven losses. The Rhum Masters advances in the best-of-five semifinal series by eliminating Pop Cola and went on to play the defending champions Alaska Milkmen. The Rhum Masters took a commanding 2–0 lead and while the Milkmen bounced back with a victory in Game three, the Rhum Masters finish them off in Game four as rookie Sonny Alvarado poured in 32 points in a 111–93 victory that sent Tanduay to the All-Filipino Cup finals in their maiden appearance.

Going up against Formula Shell in the championship series, the Rhum Masters tied the series at two games apiece before losing the last two games to settled for runner-up finish.

Notable dates

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February 24: Rookie Sonny Alvarado registered a conference-high early with 46 points in Tanduay's 94–78 victory over Sta.Lucia Realtors in Bustos, Bulacan.

February 28: Tanduay Gold Rhum continued its spirited run in the All-Filipino Cup with a 95–85 victory over Purefoods for its third straight win after losing their first two games of the season.[2]

March 12: Pido Jarencio tallied a game-high 36 points and spewed fire from long range as Tanduay routs Shell Zoom Masters, 100–79.[3]

July 14: Tanduay clobbered Pop Cola, 78–66, despite the presence of Noli Locsin with his new team as the Rhum Masters remain unbeaten with its third straight victory in the Commissioner's Cup and tied San Miguel and Alaska on top with three wins without a loss.[4]

July 21: The Rhum Masters held on to score their fifth straight win and retain solo leadership when it topple Alaska, 70–68. Eric Menk pulled off a crucial steal on Kenneth Duremdes and two more defensive gems by Tanduay stalled Alaska's tries to tie the match.[5]

Roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 1   Webb, Jason 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) De La Salle
G 2   Gallent, Jorge 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern
G 7   Rubi, Jomer 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) UPHSD
F 11   Jose, Bobby 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST
F 12   Magpantay, Alvin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle
F/C 13   Telan, Mark 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) De La Salle
F/C 15   Alvarado, Sonny 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Texas-Austin
G 16   Bughao, Derick 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Visayas
G 18   Alforque, Rene 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Cebu
G/F 22   Gayoso, Jayvee 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ateneo
G 25   Jarencio, Pido 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) UST
C 30   Menk, Eric 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Lake Superior State
F/C 33   Cantonjos, Chris 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) UST
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Team Manager: David de Joya

Transactions

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Additions

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Player Signed Former team
Jaime Gayoso Off-season Ginebra
Pido Jarencio Off-season Ginebra
Jason Webb Off-season Sta. Lucia Realtors

Recruited imports

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Tournament Name Number Position Nationality University/College
Commissioner's Cup Ime Oduok 53 Center-Forward   Nigeria Loyola Marymount University
Joe Ira Clark 24 Forward-Center   United States University of Texas
Governors' Cup Ronnie Fields 20 Guard   United States Farragut Academy

References

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  1. ^ "Jaworski joins Tanduay as endorser, spokesman". Manila Standard.
  2. ^ "Tanduay dumps Purefoods, ups winning streak to three". Manila Standard.
  3. ^ "Jarencio blazes from afar as Tanduay razes Shell". Manila Standard.
  4. ^ "Tanduay sends Pop to 4th loss". Manila Standard.
  5. ^ "Tanduay nips Alaska, earns fifth win in row". Manila Standard.