Grand Slam (PBA)

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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

MICAA. The Crispa Redmanizers' team was composed of future Hall of Famers Bogs Adornado, Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, and Philip Cezar, and was coached by Baby Dalupan.[8]

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

three games to two
.

In the

Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season.[8]

1989 San Miguel Beermen

The

Purefoods Hotdogs center and playing coach Ramon Fernandez, controversially trading him for Abet Guidaben with the Hotdogs.[12]

With import Michael Phelps, San Miguel won the

best-of-seven series against the 65ers in five games.[8]

1996 Alaska Milkmen

The

Triangle Offense system in the PBA.[13]

In the first conference of the 1996 season, the

best-of-seven finals. In Game 5 of the championship series, Purefoods forced the game into overtime and held a one-point lead against Alaska, 92–91, with 10.3 seconds remaining. In the next play, Alaska was inbounding from their baseline behind the basket. Jeffrey Cariaso caught the ball in an alley-oop attempt but was fouled by Bong Ravena while trying to block the shot with 0.6 seconds left. Cariaso sank both of his free throws and gave Alaska the lead, 93–92. With no timeouts left, the TJ Hotdogs threw a desperate attempt from the opposite side of their basket and missed, giving the Milkmen the All-Filipino championship.[14]

In the second conference, the

in five games.[8] Johnny Abarrientos won the MVP award at the end of the season.[15]

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

PJ Simon.[17]

In the first conference of the 2013–14 season, the

in the finals and won the championship by four games to two.[18]

In the

Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, who had a 13–0 record before the start of their championship series.[27] The Coffee Mixers won the first game of the series.[28] Talk 'N Text won Game 2 of the finals but the Coffee Mixers won the next two games and their third consecutive championship.[29]

In the

finals.[32] They played their Philippine Cup opponents, Rain or Shine. The Coffee Mixers won the series and the Grand Slam after five games.[33]

Failed Grand Slam bids

These teams won the first two conferences but were defeated in the last tournament:

Consecutive championships

In other instances, a team won three or even four consecutive conferences in two different seasons (akin to "

Serena slam
"). These teams were:

  • 19761977 Crispa Redmanizers (six straight championships: 1975 All-Philippine Championship, 1976 Grand Slam, 1977 All-Filipino Conference and 1977 Open Conference)[36]
  • 19831984 Crispa Redmanizers (four straight championships: 1983 Grand Slam, 1984 First All-Filipino Conference)[36]
  • 19841985 Great Taste Coffee Makers (four straight championships: 1984 Second All-Filipino Conference, 1984 Invitational Championship, 1985 Open Conference, 1985 All-Filipino Conference)[36]
  • 19881989 San Miguel Beermen (four straight championships: 1988 PBA Reinforced Conference, 1989 Grand Slam)[36]
  • 19951996 Alaska Milkmen (four straight championship: 1995 Governors' Cup and 1996 Grand Slam)[36]
  • 19971998 Alaska Milkmen (three straight championships: 1997 Governors' Cup, 1998 All-Filipino Cup and 1998 PBA Commissioner's Cup)[36]
  • 20002001 San Miguel Beermen (three straight championships: 2000 Commissioner's Cup, 2000 Governors' Cup, 2001 All-Filipino Cup)[36]
  • 20132014 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

2009–10 season, the league adopted a two-conference format: an All-Filipino tournament named the PBA Philippine Cup and an import-laced tournament named the PBA Fiesta Conference. A Grand Slam could be attained during this period by winning both titles instead of the usual three. No team in the PBA won this version of the Grand Slam.[41]

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

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ "Tropang Giga achieves historic Season 2 Grand slam". 3x3.pba.ph. February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Talk 'N Text and the PBA's greatest dynasties, Jay P. Mercado, InterAKTV, February 1, 2012
  4. ^ After 30 years, Crispa's win streak still unmatched, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, December 7, 2010
  5. ^ To honor 1989 grand slam team, Petron to change name back to San Miguel Beermen, GMA News Online, January 13, 2014
  6. ^ Amazing Alaska completes Grand Slam, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 18, 1996
  7. ^ History rewritten: Mixers claim PBA Grand Slam Championship, Carlo Pamintuan, Yahoo PH Sports, July 9, 2014
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ Fond Memories of Billy Ray Bates Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Tempo, October 11, 2011
  11. ^ Norman Black, Franz Pumaren look back at San Miguel Beer's 1989 Grand Slam, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, January 16, 2014
  12. ^ The ballad of the PBA journeyman, Jay P. Mercado, May 16, 2012
  13. ^ Tim Cone planning to run triangle offense wherever he lands, Reynaldo Belen, InterAKTV, September 6, 2011
  14. ^ Alaska bags AFC crown, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, May 27, 1996
  15. ^ Abarrientos is PBA's '96 MVP, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 16, 1996
  16. ^ Cone named B-MEG Llamados' new coach, Renee Folapan, GMA News Online, September 14, 2011
  17. ^ Yap, Simon and Pingris – the big three for big games, The Final Score by Mico Halili, GMA News Online, February 13, 2014
  18. ^ PBA: From a disappointing start, San Mig Coffee Mixers rise to back-to-back titles, GMA News Online, February 26, 2014
  19. ^ 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
  20. ^ 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
  21. ^ 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
  22. ^ 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
  23. ^ 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
  24. ^ 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
  25. ^ 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
  26. ^ 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
  27. ^ 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
  28. ^ 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
  29. ^ 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
  30. ^ Reid game-winner pushes Rain or Shine past San Mig Coffee, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 17, 2014
  31. ^ Mixers bank on their bench to defeat and eliminate the San Miguel Beermen, Chris Lagunzad, Yahoo PH Sports, June 17, 2014
  32. ^ San Mig Coffee sends home Talk 'N Text, advances to finals, Jane Bracer, Rappler, June 27, 2014
  33. ^ San Mig Super Coffee Mixers claim rare PBA Grand Slam, Rappler, July 10, 2014
  34. ^ Jaworski before Ginebra: A look back at the Big J's Toyota years, Jay P. Mercado, , July 5, 2012
  35. ^
    Quinito Henson, The Philippine Star
    , July 11, 2014
  36. ^ 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
  37. ^ Can TNT achieve the Grand Slam?, One Game At A Time: by Sev Sarmenta, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 28, 2011
  38. ^ Basketball mania rules the Philippines, Maria Ressa, CNN, October 24, 1995
  39. ^ Tim Cone sees parallels between San Mig Coffee's current run, Alaska's Grand Slam team, Rey Joble, InterAksyon.com, May 16, 2014
  40. ^ Petron Blaze slams Talk 'N Text in epic game 7 to win Governors' Cup, InterAKTV, August 21, 2011
  41. ^ San Mig's grand slam victory is destiny fulfilled, Bert A. Ramirez, Rappler, July 13, 2014
  42. ^ Yearender: 'Twas a grand slam year in basketball, Jimbo Gulle, Manila Standard, December 28, 1996

See also

  • Philippine Basketball Association Champions