1996 Formula Shell Zoom Masters season

The 1996 Formula Shell Super Unleaded season was the 12th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Off-season transactions

Summary

All-Filipino Cup: Formula Shell were off to a 4-0 won-loss start, beating defending champion Sunkist in their first game, 109-95 on February 20, followed by wins over Purefoods, 85-80 on February 24 in Lipa City, ^[1] San Miguel, 89-79 on February 27, ^[2] and Pepsi, 80-72 on March 3, ^[3] before suffering their first loss of the season to Alaska on March 8. Shell finish second in the eliminations with a 9-5 won-loss slate and a game behind leader Alaska Milkmen. The Zoom Masters won their first two games in the semifinals but skidded in their last six outings, losing all their remaining matches and dropped to fifth place.

Commissioner's Cup: Import Kenny Redfield moved over to Formula Shell after his former team Purefoods decided not to rehire his services and opted for former Swift import Ronnie Thompkins instead. The Zoom Masters lost their first two games before picking up their first win against Purefoods, 89-81 on June 23, Shell handed Alaska their first loss after six straight victories in an 82-79 win on July 12. ^[4] The Zoom Masters advances into the semifinal round with a 97-78 win over Sunkist on the last day of the eliminations on July 23. ^[5] In the semifinal round, Shell won five of their eight assignments to earn a playoff for the second finals berth against Ginebra San Miguel, a team which they haven't beaten in four outings in the Conference. On August 25, in a do-or-die game for the right to meet Alaska Milkmen in the finals series, the Zoom Masters trailed, 83-86, with 17 seconds left in the ballgame following Bal David's triple, Shell's mid-season acquisition Richie Ticzon tied the count at 86-all with his own triple, on a Ginebra timeout and ball possession, Gins' import Henry James almost losses the ball but was able to recovered and attempted a three-pointer which was swatted by Benjie Paras, the ball went into Kenny Redfield's hands as they raced down the court, Redfield converted a desperation triple that went in at the final buzzer, giving Shell a stunning 89-86 win that shocked the pre-dominantly Ginebra crowd. ^[6] Formula Shell enters the finals for the first time since 1992. In the championship series against Alaska, the underdog Shell squad continued to defied the odds, winning Games 1 and 3, taking a two games to one advantage but the championship savvy Milkmen won the finals series in a hard-fought seven games.

Governors Cup: Resident import Bobby Parks led Shell to six wins in 10 games he played, Parks was sidelined with a fractured left foot incurred in the Zoom Masters' 70-84 loss to Purefoods on November 10. Shell was importless in their next two games which they lost to Alaska on the last day of the eliminations on November 15, and Sunkist in their quarterfinal playoffs. Replacing the injured Parks was former Purefoods import Tharon Mayes. Formula Shell made it to the best-of-five semifinals against Alaska by winning over Sunkist, 104-102, in their knockout game on November 24, Mayes was outplayed by Sean Chambers in the semifinal series and the Zoom Masters were swept in three games by the Grandslam-seeking Alaska Milkmen.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School G 00 Rommel Santos College of Staten Island G 5 Ronnie Magsanoc UP-Diliman G 6 Joey Guanio UP-Diliman F 8 Alejandro Lim University of Visayas G 10 Richie Ticzon Ateneo de Manila F 11 Peter Naron University of Visayas G 12 Porferio Marzan University of Baguio C 14 Benjie Paras UP-Diliman F 15 Romulo Orillosa Adamson University F 17 Antero Saldaña Letran G 20 Elmer Lago De La Salle C 32 Jolly Escobar UE F 33 Victor Pablo FEU F 3 Kenny Redfield (C) Michigan State University F 22 Bobby Parks (G) Memphis State University G 25 Tharon Mayes (G) Florida State University Position Name/s Head coach:  Chito Narvasa Assistants: Perry Ronquillo Commissioners Cup Import - (C), Governors Cup import - (G) '

_{Team Manager: Jaime Aizon}

References