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
Owner(s)Lucio "Bong" Tan, Jr.
All-Filipino Cup results
Record1512
(55.6%)
Place3rd seed
Playoff finishRunner-up (Shell 2-4)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record54
(55.6%)
Place5th seed
Playoff finishQF (lost to SMB)
Governor's Cup results
Record95
(64.3%)
Place2nd seed
Playoff finishSemis (lost to SMB)
Tanduay Rhum Masters seasons

Draft pick

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

League return

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

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

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

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

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

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

Team Manager: David de Joya

Transactions

Additions

PlayerSignedFormer team
Jaime GayosoOff-seasonGinebra
Pido JarencioOff-seasonGinebra
Jason WebbOff-seasonSta. Lucia Realtors

Recruited imports

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

References

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