1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals

The 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals was the best-of-7 series basketball championship of the 1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The Gordon's Gin Boars and Alaska Milkmen played for the 67th championship contested by the league.

1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals
TeamCoachWins
Gordon's Gin Boars Robert Jaworski 4
Alaska Milkmen Tim Cone 2
DatesAugust 26 – September 7, 1997
MVPMarlou Aquino
TelevisionVTV (IBC)
Radio networkDWFM

Gordon's Gin Boars finally ended a six-year title drought, winning their finals series over Alaska Milkmen, 4 games to 2.

Qualification
Gordon's GinAlaska
Finished 6–4 (.600), tied for 1stEliminationsFinished 5–5 (.500), 5th
Finished 11–7 (.611), tied for 1stSemifinalsFinished 11–7 (.611), tied for 1st, and, +12 in overall point differential over San Miguel
Won against San Miguel, 106–100Playoff

Series scoring summary
Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Wins
Gordon's Gin 991028790811054
Alaska 89968610886792
Venue CunetaAranetaCunetaCunetaAranetaCuneta

Games summary

Game 1
August 26
7:30 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 99, Alaska Milkmen 89
Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 24–18, 22–20, 32–25
Pts: Chris King 40
Rebs: Chris King 13
Asts: King 10		 Pts: Johnny Abarrientos 23
Rebs: Kevin Holland 18
Asts: Abarrientos, Hawkins 5
Gordon's Gin leads series, 1–0

Chris King registered a triple-double of 40 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, as he figured in Gordon's key third quarter assault when they grabbed a 55–52 lead. Alaska had one last chance to stage a reversal late in the game but King took command, giving the Boars a 94–84 bubble with a minute to go.

Game 2
August 29
7:00 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 102, Alaska Milkmen 96
Gordon's Gin leads series, 2–0

Chris King, despite suffering a pulled left hamstring, never gave up, he hits the dagger three-pointer from a Marlou Aquino pass with 37.2 seconds left to give the Boars a four-point lead. Doctors later found out that King had a strained ligament and a partial tear on his left hamstring.

Game 3
August 31
6:00 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 87, Alaska Milkmen 86
Scoring by quarter: 12–18, 24–21, 26–17, 25–30
Pts: Pido Jarencio 23
Rebs: Terry Saldaña 12
Asts: Aquino 5		 Pts: Kevin Holland 23
Rebs: Kevin Holland 14
Asts: Abarrientos 10
Gordon's Gin leads series, 3–0

The Boars pulled through a down-the-wire final minute with import Chris King's inside basket and Pido Jarencio's key triple as the Milkmen succumbed to turnovers and missed attempts in their last possessions. Jarencio waxes hot with seven triples, five in the final half, on a 7-of-8 shooting from the three-point range. Alaska had one last crack to win the game but Dwight Lago's jumper went all air as Gordon's takes a 3–0 lead.[1]

Game 4
September 2
7:00 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 90, Alaska Milkmen 108
Scoring by quarter: 20–17, 17–28, 22–35, 31–26
Pts: Noli Locsin 18
Rebs: Chris King, Wilmer Ong 5
Asts: King 6		 Pts: Johnny Abarrientos 24
Rebs: Kevin Holland 10
Asts: Abarrientos 4
Gordon's Gin leads series, 3–1

Game 5
September 5
7:00 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 81, Alaska Milkmen 86
Scoring by quarter: 19–13, 14–26, 29–27, 19–20
Pts: Chris King 19
Rebs: Marlou Aquino 11
Asts: King 10		 Pts: Jojo Lastimosa 16
Rebs: Kevin Holland 15
Asts: Abarrientos 7
Gordon's Gin leads series, 3–2

Game 6
September 7
6:00 pm
Gordon's Gin Boars 105, Alaska Milkmen 79
Pts: Chris King 24
Gordon's Gin wins series, 4–2

A decisive 33–5 run in the third quarter as the Boars' avalanche of points blew the game wide open. Gordon's steamrolled to a 30-point lead at 79–49, going into the fourth quarter, while limiting Alaska to an all-time lowest score of five points in a quarter.[2]

1997 PBA Commissioner's Cup Champions

Gordon's Gin Boars
Fourth title

Awards

Rosters
Gordon's Gin Boars roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
G 1 Philippines David, Bal 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 148 lb (67 kg) UST
F 6 Philippines Locsin, Noli 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 250 lb (113 kg) De La Salle
G 7 Philippines Jaworski, Robert 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) UE
F 9 Philippines De Joya, Macky 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) San Beda
G/F 11 Philippines Gayoso, Jayvee 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Ateneo
G 12 Philippines Hizon, Vince 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Ateneo
C 13 Philippines Aquino, Marlou 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Adamson
G 15 Philippines Orquillas, Michael 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Cebu
F 16 Philippines Cheng, Benny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mapúa
F 17 Philippines Saldaña, Antero 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Letran
F/C 18 Philippines Ong, Wilmer 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 245 lb (111 kg) USLS
C 24 Philippines Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U
G 25 Philippines Jarencio, Pido 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 170 lb (77 kg) UST
F 44 United States King, Chris (I) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Wake Forest
G 52 Philippines Jaworski, Jr., Robert 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Ateneo
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  • Injured Injured
Alaska Milkmen roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.
F 5 United States Holland, Kevin (I) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 219 lb (99 kg) DePaul
G/F 6 Philippines Lastimosa, Jojo 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) USJ–R
G 7 Philippines Gomez, Roehl 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Cebu
G/F 9 Philippines Santos, Rodney 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) San Sebastian
G 10 Philippines Fernandez, Boyet 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 165 lb (75 kg) San Agustin
F/C 12 Philippines Bachmann, Dickie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg) De La Salle
G 14 Philippines Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Far Eastern
G/F 15 Philippines Lago, Dwight 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) De La Salle
F 16 Philippines Hawkins, Bong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) UPHSD
C 17 Philippines Ramas, Kevin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Mapúa
C 29 Philippines Otto, Michael 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Far Eastern
C 32 Philippines Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Philippines
G/F 44 Philippines Castelo, Merwin 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 186 lb (84 kg) San Beda
C 51 Philippines Punzalan, Bryant 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Far Eastern
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (I) Import
  • Injured Injured

Broadcast notes
GamePlay-by-playAnalystCourtside Reporter
Game 1Noli EalaAndy Jao
Game 2Ed PicsonQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 3Chino TrinidadAndy JaoAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 4Noli EalaQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay and Butch Maniego
Game 5Chino TrinidadAndy Jao
Game 6Ed PicsonQuinito HensonAnthony Suntay, Butch Maniego and Randy Sacdalan

References
  1. "Scent of title gets stronger for Gordon's". Manila Standard.
  2. "Gordon's Gin ends 6-year drought". Manila Standard.
  3. "Abarrientos named best player". Manila Standard.
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