1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup

The 1996 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 1996 PBA season. It started on June 14 and ended on September 10, 1996. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with a 6'7" height limit.

1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup
DurationJune 14 – September 10, 1996
TV partner(s)Vintage Sports (IBC)
Finals
ChampionsAlaska Milkmen
Runners-upFormula Shell Zoom Masters
Awards
Best PlayerBong Hawkins
(Alaska Milkmen)
Best ImportKenny Redfield
(Formula Shell Zoom Masters)
Finals MVPBong Hawkins
(Alaska Milkmen)
PBA Commissioner's Cup chronology
PBA conference chronology

Format

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:

  • The teams were divided into 2 groups.
  • Teams in a group will play against each other once and against teams in the other group twice; 10 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win–loss records. Ties are broken among point differentials of the tied teams. Standings will be determined in one league table; teams do not qualify by basis of groupings.[1]
  • The top five teams after the eliminations will advance to the semifinals.
  • Semifinals will be two round robin affairs with the remaining five teams. Results from the eliminations will be carried over. A playoff incentive for a finals berth will be given to the team that will win at least five of their eight semifinal games.
  • The top two teams (or the top team and the winner of the playoff incentive) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series. The next two teams (or the loser of the playoff incentive and the fourth seeded team) dispute the third-place trophy in a one-game playoff.

Elimination round

Team standings

Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Alaska Milkmen 8 2 .800 — Advance to semifinals
2 Ginebra San Miguel 6 4 .600[lower-alpha 1] 2
3 Sta. Lucia Realtors 6 4 .600[lower-alpha 1] 2
4 Formula Shell Zoom Masters 5 5 .500[lower-alpha 2] 3
5 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs 5 5 .500[lower-alpha 2] 3
6 Sunkist Orange Juicers 5 5 .500[lower-alpha 2] 3
7 San Miguel Beermen 4 6 .400 4
8 Mobiline Cellulars 1 9 .100 7
Source:
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head record: Ginebra 1–0 Sta. Lucia
  2. Head-to-head quotient: Shell 1.170, Purefoods 1.050, Sunkist 0.861; 5th-seed playoff: Purefoods 89–76 Sunkist

Semifinal berth playoff

Semifinals

Team standings

Finals berth playoff

Bal David sank a three-point shot, putting the Gins on with the lead, 86–83 with 17 seconds left in the game. Richie Ticson however also made a three pointer tying the game again, 86-all with 10.5 seconds left.

After calling a timeout to design the last play, Henry James opted to try a three pointer after an inbound pass from Vince Hizon. James' shot was blocked by Benjie Paras and picked up by Kenny Redfield, making a buzzer beating three point shot, thus winning the game for them, 89–86.[2]

Third place playoff

Finals
Main article: 1996 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals
September 10
Alaska Milkmen 83, Formula Shell 77
Alaska wins series, 4–3

References
  1. "Purefoods still alive, ousts SMB". Ismael Amigo, Manila Standard, July 22, 1996.
  2. "Shell knocks out Ginebra". Ismael Amigo, Manila Standard, August 26, 1996.
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