Grand Slam (PBA)
In the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Grand Slam is the achievement of winning all three conference championships (tournaments) in a single season. As of 2020, this has been accomplished five times by four teams and four coaches since the league's inception in 1975.[1]
In the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, at least one team swept the championships in one season. The decade 2000–2009 had no Grand Slam winner because of adjustments to the league calendar in 2004, in which the start of the season was moved from January to October and the number of conferences per season was reduced from three to two. The three-conference season format was reinstated in the 2010–11 season.[1]
In the PBA 3x3 tournament, a team can only win the Grand Slam if they win the championships of all three conferences in a season. This feat was first accomplished by the TNT Tropang Giga (later TNT Triple Giga) at the end of the 2022–23 season.[2]
Grand Slam winners
Season | Team | Coach | Defeated finalists | Season record |
Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First | Second | Third | |||||
1976 | Crispa Redmanizers | Baby Dalupan | Toyota | Toyota | Toyota | 47–15 (75.8%) | [3] |
1983 | Crispa Redmanizers | Tommy Manotoc | Gilbey's | Great Taste | Great Taste | 46–16 (74.2%) | [4] |
1989 | San Miguel Beermen | Norman Black | Shell | Purefoods |
Añejo | 50–21 (70.4%) | [5] |
1996 | Alaska Milkmen | Tim Cone | Purefoods |
Shell | Ginebra | 51–21 (70.8%) | [6] |
2013–14 | San Mig Super Coffee Mixers |
Tim Cone | Rain or Shine | Talk 'N Text |
Rain or Shine | 41–30 (57.7%) | [7] |
1976 Crispa Redmanizers
In the league's second season, the
1983 Crispa Redmanizers
Crispa Redmanizers achieved the Grand Slam again in the 1983 season. The team still comprised many of the same players as the 1976 Grand Slam team, but they were now coached by former
In the
1989 San Miguel Beermen
The
With import Michael Phelps, San Miguel won the
1996 Alaska Milkmen
The
In the first conference of the 1996 season, the
In the second conference, the
2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers
In 2011, the former Alaska coach Tim Cone took over the coaching duties of the B-Meg Llamados team—later renamed the
In the first conference of the 2013–14 season, the
In the
In the
Failed Grand Slam bids
These teams won the first two conferences but were defeated in the last tournament:
- 1977 Crispa Redmanizers (missed Finals berth in the Invitational Conference)[35]
- 1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (missed Finals berth in the Reinforced Conference) [35][36]
- 1986 Tanduay Rhum Masters (missed Finals berth in the Open Conference)[35][37]
- 1995 Sunkist Orange Juicers (missed Finals berth in the Governors' Cup)[35][36][38]
- 1998 Alaska Milkmen (missed Finals berth in the Governors' Cup)[35][39]
- 2016–17 San Miguel Beermen (missed Finals berth in the Governors' Cup)
- 2019 San Miguel Beermen (missed Finals berth in the Governors' Cup)
Consecutive championships
In other instances, a team won three or even four consecutive conferences in two different seasons (akin to "
- 1976–1977 Crispa Redmanizers (six straight championships: 1975 All-Philippine Championship, 1976 Grand Slam, 1977 All-Filipino Conference and 1977 Open Conference)[36]
- 1983–1984 Crispa Redmanizers (four straight championships: 1983 Grand Slam, 1984 First All-Filipino Conference)[36]
- 1984–1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (four straight championships: 1984 Second All-Filipino Conference, 1984 Invitational Championship, 1985 Open Conference, 1985 All-Filipino Conference)[36]
- 1988–1989 San Miguel Beermen (four straight championships: 1988 PBA Reinforced Conference, 1989 Grand Slam)[36]
- 1995–1996 Alaska Milkmen (four straight championship: 1995 Governors' Cup and 1996 Grand Slam)[36]
- 1997–1998 Alaska Milkmen (three straight championships: 1997 Governors' Cup, 1998 All-Filipino Cup and 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup)[36]
- 2000–2001 San Miguel Beermen (three straight championships: 2000 Commissioner's Cup, 2000 Governors' Cup, 2001 All-Filipino Cup)[36]
- 2013–2014 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers (four straight championships: 2013 Governors' Cup, 2013–14 Grand Slam)[36]
Grand Slam during the two-conference era
From the
Other usage in the Philippines
The term "Grand Slam" has also come into local usage, in which a team/person wins at least three consecutive championships (see "three-peat"). In the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL), a Grand Slam could be won because the amateur league also has a three-conference format similar to that of the PBA. The Stag Pale Pilseners led by future Barangay Ginebra San Miguel players Marlou Aquino and Bal David won the PBL version of the Grand Slam in the league's 1995–96 season, coached by Alfrancis Chua the Stags dominated the said Season.[42]
The Tanduay Rhum Masters also won the said feat in the PBL's 1997–98 Season, also coached by Alfrancis Chua, the lineup of the Rhum Masters for the said season are Eric Menk, Mark Telan and Chris Cantojos.
References
- ^ a b PBA GRAND SLAM: 18 years in the making Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Tito S. Talao, Tempo, July 11, 2014
- ^ "Tropang Giga achieves historic Season 2 Grand slam". 3x3.pba.ph. February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ Talk 'N Text and the PBA's greatest dynasties, Jay P. Mercado, InterAKTV, February 1, 2012
- ^ After 30 years, Crispa's win streak still unmatched, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, December 7, 2010
- ^ To honor 1989 grand slam team, Petron to change name back to San Miguel Beermen, GMA News Online, January 13, 2014
- ^ Amazing Alaska completes Grand Slam, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 18, 1996
- ^ History rewritten: Mixers claim PBA Grand Slam Championship, Carlo Pamintuan, Yahoo PH Sports, July 9, 2014
- ^ a b c d Chasing A PBA Grand Slam: Crispa, San Miguel, And Alaska Provide The Blueprint For San Mig Coffee's Quest, Paolo Mariano, FHM Philippines, May 26, 2014
- ^ As Heat continue to roll, let's recall record win streaks in NBA and PBA, By the numbers: by Fidel Mangonon, Spin. ph, March 21, 2013
- ^ Fond Memories of Billy Ray Bates Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Tempo, October 11, 2011
- ^ Norman Black, Franz Pumaren look back at San Miguel Beer's 1989 Grand Slam, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, January 16, 2014
- ^ The ballad of the PBA journeyman, Jay P. Mercado, May 16, 2012
- ^ Tim Cone planning to run triangle offense wherever he lands, Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV, September 6, 2011
- ^ Alaska bags AFC crown, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, May 27, 1996
- ^ Abarrientos is PBA's '96 MVP, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 16, 1996
- ^ Cone named B-MEG Llamados' new coach, Renee Folapan, GMA News Online, September 14, 2011
- ^ Yap, Simon and Pingris – the big three for big games, The Final Score by Mico Halili, GMA News Online, February 13, 2014
- ^ PBA: From a disappointing start, San Mig Coffee Mixers rise to back-to-back titles, GMA News Online, February 26, 2014
- ^ Meralco tops San Mig Coffee, finishes Commissioner's Cup elims with winning record Archived May 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 14, 2014
- ^ Rain or Shine, Ginebra battle to avoid bottom playoff position; Alaska faces San Mig Coffee Archived May 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 14, 2014
- ^ Alaska continues hot run in quarters, pushes San Mig Coffee to the brink Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 21, 2014
- ^ San Mig Coffee ends Alaska's title reign, punches return ticket to semis Archived May 31, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 26, 2014
- ^ History versus hunger: San Mig Coffee, Air 21 open best-of-five semifinals series Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 29, 2014
- ^ Air 21 continues their surprising run with a semis Game One victory over San Mig Coffee Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, April 29, 2014
- ^ Air 21 shoots down San Mig Coffee, forces do-or-die Game Five Archived May 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, May 5, 2014
- ^ San Mig Coffee pummels Air 21 in semis Game Five, sets up finals rematch with Talk 'N Text Archived May 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, May 7, 2014
- ^ Before Talk N Text, Crispa and Alaska had a shot at historic conference sweep. Find out what happened, "By the Numbers" by Fidel Mangonon III, spin.ph, May 4, 2014
- ^ San Mig Coffee shatters Talk 'N Text streak to draw first blood in finals Archived May 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, May 9, 2014
- ^ San Mig Coffee defeats Talk 'N Text to win Commissioner's Cup, third straight PBA title Archived May 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, InterAksyon.com, May 15, 2014
- ^ Reid game-winner pushes Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 17, 2014
- ^ Mixers bank on their bench to defeat and eliminate the San Miguel Beermen, Chris Lagunzad, Yahoo PH Sports, June 17, 2014
- ^ San Mig Coffee sends home Talk 'N Text, advances to finals, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 27, 2014
- ^ San Mig Super Coffee Mixers claim rare PBA Grand Slam, Rappler, July 10, 2014
- ^ Jaworski before Ginebra: A look back at the Big J's Toyota years, Jay P. Mercado, , July 5, 2012
- ^ Quinito Henson, The Philippine Star, July 11, 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j PEX SPECIAL FEATURE: The Top Ten Teams In PBA History, Jay P. Mercado, PinoyExchange.com, September 5, 2013
- ^ Can TNT achieve the Grand Slam?, One Game At A Time: by Sev Sarmenta, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 28, 2011
- ^ Basketball mania rules the Philippines, Maria Ressa, CNN, October 24, 1995
- ^ Tim Cone sees parallels between San Mig Coffee's current run, Alaska's Grand Slam team, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, May 16, 2014
- ^ Petron Blaze slams Talk 'N Text in epic game 7 to win Governors' Cup, InterAKTV, August 21, 2011
- ^ San Mig's grand slam victory is destiny fulfilled, Bert A. Ramirez, Rappler, July 13, 2014
- ^ Yearender: 'Twas a grand slam year in basketball, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 28, 1996
See also
- Philippine Basketball Association Champions