2001 PBA season
# 2001 PBA season

The 2001 PBA season was the 27th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

## Board of governors

### Executive committee

* Emilio Bernardino, Jr. (Commissioner)
* Ignatius Yenko (Chairman, representing Mobiline Phone Pals)
* Francisco Alejo III (Vice-Chairman, representing Purefoods TJ Hotdogs)
* Jose Ma. Concepcion III (Treasurer, representing Pop Cola Panthers)

### Teams

| Team | Company | Governor | Alternate Governor |
| - | - | - | - |
| Alaska Aces | Alaska Milk Corporation | Wilfred Steven Uytengsu | Joaquin Trillo |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | La Tondeña Distillers, Inc. | Casiano Cabalan Jr. | Ira Daniel Maniquis |
| Mobiline Phone Pals | Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company | Ignatius Yengko | Deobrah Anne Tan |
| Pop Cola Panthers | Republic Flour Mills Corporation | Jose Ma. Concepcion III | Elmer Yanga |
| Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | Purefoods Corporation | Francisco Alejo III | |
| Red Bull Thunder | Energy Food and Drinks Inc. | Salvador Cusipag, Jr. | |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation | Manuel Encarnado | |
| San Miguel Beermen | San Miguel Brewery, Inc. | Alberto Villa-Abrille, Jr. | Alberto Manlapit |
| Shell Turbo Chargers | Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation | Reynaldo Gamboa | |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | Basic Holdings Corporation | Lucio Tan Jr. | David De Joya |

## Notable occurrences

* During the pre-season, Tanduay made soundwaves in the PBA when they dangled Danny Ildefonso of corporate rival San Miguel Beermen a whopping 16-year, 96 million peso offersheet. The league though, nullified the said deal since it was believed that the offersheet violated the team's salary cap.
* Danny Ildefonso of San Miguel became the third player to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for two straight seasons, Ildefonso also sets a record by sweeping the season's Best Player of the Conference award, his unprecedented feat started in 2000 when he emerged as the award winner in the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups, his BPC wins surpassed the three apiece won by Vergel Meneses and Alvin Patrimonio.
* Purefoods' Alvin Patrimonio became the first player to suit up for 500 straight games
* Alaska import Sean Chambers hung up his number 20 jersey after 13 years in a highly emotional retirement ceremony.
* The corporate sale of Purefoods, including its PBA franchise, to San Miguel Corporation at the end of the year was eventually approved by the Board of Governors, the Hotdogs became the third team under the San Miguel corporate umbrella.
* Paul Asi Taulava and Eric Menk, two fil-foreign players, returned to their respective ballclubs, Taulava reunited with the Phone Pals around mid-year while Menk suited up for Tanduay a little later.
* In a stunning move in late December, Tanduay shipped Eric Menk, Dondon Hontiveros, Bonel Balingit and Chris Cantonjos to other teams as a prelude to Tanduay's subsequent sale of its franchise to FedEx, the delivery firm, for P 75 million.

## Opening ceremonies

The muses for the participating teams are as follows:

| Team | Muse |
| - | - |
| Alaska Aces | Vanessa Garcia |
| Batang Red Bull Thunder | Sandra Seifert and Josephine Bonizado |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | Geneva Cruz |
| Pop Cola Panthers | Ruffa Mae Quinto |
| Mobiline Phone Pals | Patricia Javier |
| Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | Antoinette Taus |
| San Miguel Beermen | Phoemela Baranda |
| Shell Turbo Chargers | Pia Guanio |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | Marielle Lopez and Jeremie Antiporda |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | Janna Victoria |

## 2001 PBA All-Filipino Cup

### Elimination round

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Shell Turbo Chargers | 9 | 5 | .643 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 2 | San Miguel Beermen | 9 | 5 | .643 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 3 | Pop Cola Panthers | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 4 | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 5 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 7 | 7 | .500 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 6 | Alaska Aces | 7 | 7 | .500 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 7 | Batang Red Bull Thunder | 7 | 7 | .500 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 8 | Mobiline Phone Pals | 6 | 8 | .429 | 3 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 9 | Tanduay Rhum Masters | 5 | 9 | .357 | 4 | |
| 10 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 4 | 10 | .286 | 5 | |

* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Shell 1–0 San Miguel
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Pop Cola 1–0 Purefoods
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Barangay Ginebra 2–0, Alaska 1–1, Red Bull 0–2

### Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | | | | | | |
| 1 | Shell | 72 | 80 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mobiline | 76 | 69 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mobiline | 76 | 69 | 1 | Shell | 2 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 1 | Shell | 2 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 5 | Ginebra | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Purefoods | 76 | 69 | 5 | Ginebra | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Ginebra | 77 | 70 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ginebra | 77 | 70 | | | | 5 | Ginebra | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 5 | Ginebra | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 2 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 2 | San Miguel | 73 | 84 | | | | 2 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 7 | Red Bull | 85 | 82 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Red Bull | 85 | 82 | 2 | San Miguel | 3 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 2 | San Miguel | 3 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 3 | Pop Cola | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Pop Cola | 71 | 74 | 3 | Pop Cola | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Pop Cola | 71 | 74 | | | | 1 | Shell | 75 |
| 6 | Alaska | 78 | 65 | | | | 1 | Shell | 75 |
| 6 | Alaska | 78 | 65 | | | | 3 | Pop Cola | 83 |

* view
* talk

### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (2) San Miguel Beermen | 4–2 | (5) Barangay Ginebra Kings | 81–75 | 89–72 | 80–82 | 64–80 | 98–95 (OT) | 95–75 | — |

## 2001 PBA Commissioner's Cup

### Elimination round

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 7 | 2 | .778 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 2 | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | 6 | 3 | .667 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 3 | Batang Red Bull Thunder | 6 | 3 | .667 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 4 | Alaska Aces | 5 | 4 | .556 | 2 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 5 | 4 | .556 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 6 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 4 | 5 | .444 | 3 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 7 | Tanduay Rhum Masters | 3 | 6 | .333 | 4 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 8 | Mobiline Phone Pals | 3 | 6 | .333 | 4 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 9 | Shell Turbo Chargers | 3 | 6 | .333 | 4 | |
| 10 | Pop Cola Panthers | 3 | 6 | .333 | 4 | |

* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Purefoods 85–75 Red Bull
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Alaska 99–94 Sta. Lucia
* 1 2 3 4 Head-to-head differential: Pop Cola +21, Mobiline +15, Shell −13, Tanduay −23; seventh-seed playoff: Tanduay 88–82 Pop Cola; eighth-seed playoff: Mobiline 71–56 Shell

### Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | | | | | | |
| 1 | San Miguel | 81 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mobiline | 71 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Mobiline | 71 | 1 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 1 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 4 | Alaska | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Alaska | 78 | 4 | Alaska | 2 | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 68 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 68 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 3 | Red Bull | 4 |
| 2 | Purefoods | 82 | | | | 3 | Red Bull | 4 |
| 7 | Tanduay | 74 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Tanduay | 74 | 2 | Purefoods | 2 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 2 | Purefoods | 2 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 3 | Red Bull | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Red Bull | 82 | 3 | Red Bull | 3 | | | |
| 3 | Red Bull | 82 | | | | 2 | Purefoods | 89 |
| 6 | Brgy. Ginebra | 70 | | | | 2 | Purefoods | 89 |
| 6 | Brgy. Ginebra | 70 | | | | 4 | Alaska | 96 |

* view
* talk

### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (1) San Miguel Beermen | 2–4 | (3) Batang Red Bull Thunder | 78–80 | 86–92 | 100–91 | 88–72 | 77–79 | 69–75 | — |

## 2001 PBA Governors' Cup

### Elimination round

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Shell Turbo Chargers | 8 | 5 | .615 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 2 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 8 | 5 | .615 | — | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 3 | Pop Cola Panthers | 7 | 6 | .538 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 4 | San Miguel Beermen | 7 | 6 | .538 | 1 | Twice-to-beat in the quarterfinals |
| 5 | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | 7 | 6 | .538 | 1 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 6 | Alaska Aces | 6 | 7 | .462 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 7 | Batang Red Bull Thunder | 6 | 7 | .462 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 6 | 7 | .462 | 2 | Twice-to-win in the quarterfinals |
| 9 | Tanduay Rhum Masters | 5 | 8 | .385 | 3 | |
| 10 | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | 5 | 8 | .385 | 3 | |

* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Shell 1–1 Sta. Lucia; Shell +10, Sta. Lucia −10
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head record: Pop Cola 3–1, San Miguel 2–2, Talk 'N Text 1–3
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Alaska +10, Red Bull +9, Barangay Ginebra −19
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Tanduay 1–0 Purefoods

### Playoffs

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | #1 twice-to-beat | | | | | | |
| 1 | Shell | 75 | 106 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ginebra | 97 | 87 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Ginebra | 97 | 87 | 1 | Shell | 0 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 1 | Shell | 0 | | | |
| #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | #4 twice-to-beat | 4 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| 4 | San Miguel | San Miguel | 77 | 4 | San Miguel | 3 | | | |
| 5 | Talk 'N Text | Talk 'N Text | 63 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Talk 'N Text | Talk 'N Text | 63 | | | | 4 | San Miguel | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 4 | San Miguel | 2 |
| #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | #2 twice-to-beat | | | | 2 | Sta. Lucia | 4 |
| 2 | Sta. Lucia | Sta. Lucia | 97 | | | | 2 | Sta. Lucia | 4 |
| 7 | Red Bull | Red Bull | 93 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Red Bull | Red Bull | 93 | 2 | Sta. Lucia | 3 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 2 | Sta. Lucia | 3 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | #3 twice-to-beat | 3 | Pop Cola | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Pop Cola | Pop Cola | 88 | 3 | Pop Cola | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Pop Cola | Pop Cola | 88 | | | | 1 | Shell | 96 |
| 6 | Alaska | Alaska | 78 | | | | 1 | Shell | 96 |
| 6 | Alaska | Alaska | 78 | | | | 3 | Pop Cola | 87 |

* view
* talk

### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (2) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 4–2 | (4) San Miguel Beermen | 86–80 | 78–86 | 83–74 | 73–106 | 85–71 | 75–72 | — |

## Awards

* Most Valuable Player: Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
* Rookie of the Year: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)
* Sportsmanship Award: Rey Evangelista (Purefoods)
* Most Improved Player: Noy Castillo (Purefoods)
* Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Jackson (Shell)
* Mythical Five
   * Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
   * Danny Seigle (San Miguel)
   * Olsen Racela (San Miguel)
   * Dennis Espino (Sta. Lucia)
   * Ali Peek (Alaska)
* Mythical Second Team
   * Noy Castillo (Purefoods)
   * Kenneth Duremdes (Alaska)
   * Nic Belasco (San Miguel)
   * Rudy Hatfield (Pop Cola)
   * Davonn Harp (Red Bull)
* All Defensive Team
   * Chris Jackson (Shell)
   * Dennis Espino (Sta. Lucia)
   * Marlou Aquino (Sta. Lucia)
   * Rey Evangelista (Purefoods)
   * Patrick Fran (Mobiline/Talk 'N Text)

### Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

* Coach of the Year: Yeng Guiao (Red Bull)
* Mr. Quality Minutes: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra)
* Executive of the Year: Sonny Barios (PBA executive director)
* Referee of the Year: Ernie de Leon

## Cumulative standings

* Champion
* Runner-up
* Semifinalist
* Quarterfinalist
* Eliminations

| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | Best finish |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| San Miguel Beermen | 70 | 43 | 27 | .614 | Champion |
| Batang Red Bull Thunder | 51 | 28 | 23 | .549 | Champion |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | 49 | 25 | 24 | .510 | Champion |
| Alaska Aces | 46 | 23 | 23 | .500 | Semifinalist |
| Shell Turbo Chargers | 51 | 25 | 26 | .490 | Semifinalist |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs | 45 | 22 | 23 | .489 | Semifinalist |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 52 | 25 | 27 | .480 | Runner-up |
| Pop Cola Panthers | 51 | 24 | 27 | .470 | Semifinalist |
| Mobiline / Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | 41 | 18 | 23 | .433 | Quarterfinalist |
| Tanduay Rhum Masters | 38 | 14 | 24 | .368 | Quarterfinalist |
