2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season

2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season
Head coachChot Reyes
General ManagerHector Calma
Owner(s)Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.
Governors' Cup results
Record12–6
(66.7%)
Place2nd seed
Playoff finishSemis (lost to Purefoods)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record7–5
(58.3%)
Place5th seed
Playoff finishQF (lost to SMB)
All-Filipino Cup results
Record12–5
(70.6%)
Place3rd seed
Playoff finishChampions
Coca-Cola Tigers seasons
2003 →

The 2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

Main article: 2002 PBA draft

New team

Formerly the Pop Cola Panthers, RFM Corporation sold its entire stake in softdrink unit Cosmos Bottling Corporation and its PBA franchise to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. The team was renamed Coca-Cola Tigers as a new ballclub. Records of the Pop Cola Panthers were not retained. [1]

Transactions

Players Added

Via Draft

  • All five players drafted

Via Free Agency

Occurrences

Key players Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso serve time for the national team in the first two conferences. Three other Tigers, rookie Rafi Reavis and center Poch Juinio played for RP-Selecta while Johnny Abarrientos played for RP-Hapee during the Governor's Cup.

Championship

The Coca Cola Tigers made history by becoming the first team to win a PBA title in its maiden season as they captured the season-ending All-Filipino Cup crown over the Alaska Aces, three games to one. The Tigers won their first championship on a historic night on Christmas Day with a 78-63 victory in Game four of the finals.

Main article: 2002 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals

Roster

2002 Coca-Cola Tigers roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G/F 3 Philippines Manalo, Jojo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UPHSD
C 4 United States Reavis, Rafi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Coppin State
F 8 Philippines Briones, Lowell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Visayas
C 9 Philippines Lao, Gilbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) UST
G 10 Philippines Morano, Renato 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) San Beda
F 12 Philippines Gamboa, Allan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
G 14 Philippines Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern
F 15 Philippines Misolas, Jason 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran
F 16 Philippines Ballesteros, Estong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST
G 18 Philippines Avenido, Leo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern
G 22 United States Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State
C 24 Philippines Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U
F 25 Philippines Abuda, Freddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cebu
C Philippines Sese, Jovie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) MLQU
G 31 United States Antonio, William 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade
C 32 Philippines Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
F 99 United States Hatfield, Rudy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UM–Dearborn
G 26 United States Ellis, Rosell (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) McNeese State
F 22 United States Williams, Fred (G) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) UAB
F 22 United States Hale, Ron (G/C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Florida State
F/C United States Basemore, Bryant (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Fort Hays State
F 21 United States Braggs, Torraye (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Xavier
F 21 United States Daniel, Carlos (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Washington State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (G) Governor's Cup Import
  • (C) Commissioner's Cup Import
  • Injured Injured

Eliminations (Won games)

Date Opponent Score Venue (Location)
February 10 FedEx 66-62 Araneta Coliseum [2]
February 22 San Miguel 85-79 Ynares Center
March 3 Purefoods 89-69 Philsports Arena
March 9 Brgy.Ginebra 82-74 Cuneta Astrodome
March 16 Alaska 79-53 Cuneta Astrodome
April 4 Red Bull 96-77 Makati Coliseum
April 7 RP-Selecta 70-66 Araneta Coliseum
April 14 Talk 'N Text 95-90 Araneta Coliseum
June 18 FedEx 110-82 Cuneta Astrodome
June 22 Shell 78-70 Cuneta Astrodome
July 4 Brgy.Ginebra 70-65 Cuneta Astrodome
July 9 Purefoods 91-72 Cuneta Astrodome [3]
July 19 Talk 'N Text 94-91 Cuneta Astrodome
August 8 RP-Selecta 74-62 Cuneta Astrodome
October 27 Shell 80-52 Araneta Coliseum [4]
November 3 Purefoods 83-58 Araneta Coliseum
November 8 Brgy.Ginebra 85-63 Cuneta Astrodome
November 13 FedEx 75-69 Philsports Arena
November 20 Sta.Lucia 67-53 Cuneta Astrodome
November 29 Talk 'N Text 92-84 Cuneta Astrodome

  Governor's Cup
  Commissioner's Cup
  All-Filipino Cup

References

  1. ^ "Chot to get P3.2M as Tigers coach". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. ^ "Coca Cola upends FedEx". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. ^ "Coca Cola drubs Purefoods". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  4. ^ "Coke routs Shell". Philippine Daily Inquirer.