2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season
Head coachChot Reyes
Owner(s)Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.
Governor's Cup results
Record126
(66.7%)
Place2nd seed
Playoff finishSemis (lost to Purefoods)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record75
(58.3%)
Place5th seed
Playoff finishQF (lost to SMB)
All-Filipino Cup results
Record125
(70.6%)
Place3rd seed
Playoff finishChampions
Coca-Cola Tigers seasons

The 2002 Coca-Cola Tigers season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Draft picks

New team

Formerly the Pop Cola Panthers, RFM Corporation sold its entire stake in softdrink unit Cosmos Bottling Corporation and its PBA franchise to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. The team was renamed Coca-Cola Tigers as a new ballclub. Records of the Pop Cola Panthers were not retained. [1]

Transactions

Players Added

Via Draft

  • All five players drafted

Via Free Agency

Occurrences

Key players Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso serve time for the national team in the first two conferences. Three other Tigers, rookie Rafi Reavis and center Poch Juinio played for RP-Selecta while Johnny Abarrientos played for RP-Hapee during the Governor's Cup.

Championship

The Coca Cola Tigers made history by becoming the first team to win a PBA title in its maiden season as they captured the season-ending All-Filipino Cup crown over the Alaska Aces, three games to one. The Tigers won their first championship on a historic night on Christmas Day with a 78-63 victory in Game four of the finals.

Roster

Coca-Cola Tigers roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
G/F 3 Philippines Manalo, Jojo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UPHSD
C 4 United States Reavis, Rafi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Coppin State
F 8 Philippines Briones, Lowell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Visayas
C 9 Philippines Lao, Gilbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) UST
G 10 Philippines Morano, Renato 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) San Beda
F 12 Philippines Gamboa, Allan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
G 14 Philippines Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern
F 15 Philippines Misolas, Jason 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran
F 16 Philippines Ballesteros, Estong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST
G 18 Philippines Avenido, Leo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern
G 22 United States Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State
C 24 Philippines Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U
F 25 Philippines Abuda, Freddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cebu
C Philippines Sese, Jovie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) MLQU
G 31 United States Antonio, William 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade
C 32 Philippines Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
F 99 United States Hatfield, Rudy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UM–Dearborn
G 26 United States Ellis, Rosell (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) McNeese State
F 22 United States Williams, Fred (G) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) UAB
F 22 United States Hale, Ron (G/C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Florida State
F/C United States Basemore, Bryant (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Fort Hays State
F 21 United States Braggs, Torraye (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Xavier
F 21 United States Daniel, Carlos (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Washington State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (G) Governor's Cup Import
    • (C) Commissioner's Cup Import
  • Injured Injured

Team Manager: Hector Calma

Eliminations (Won games)

Date Opponent Score Venue (Location)
February 10FedEx66-62Araneta Coliseum [2]
February 22San Miguel85-79Ynares Center
March 3Purefoods89-69Philsports Arena
March 9Brgy.Ginebra82-74Cuneta Astrodome
March 16Alaska79-53Cuneta Astrodome
April 4Red Bull96-77Makati Coliseum
April 7RP-Selecta70-66Araneta Coliseum
April 14Talk 'N Text95-90Araneta Coliseum
June 18FedEx110-82Cuneta Astrodome
June 22Shell78-70Cuneta Astrodome
July 4Brgy.Ginebra70-65Cuneta Astrodome
July 9Purefoods91-72Cuneta Astrodome [3]
July 19Talk 'N Text94-91Cuneta Astrodome
August 8RP-Selecta74-62Cuneta Astrodome
October 27Shell80-52Araneta Coliseum [4]
November 3Purefoods83-58Araneta Coliseum
November 8Brgy.Ginebra85-63Cuneta Astrodome
November 13FedEx75-69Philsports Arena
November 20Sta.Lucia67-53Cuneta Astrodome
November 29Talk 'N Text92-84Cuneta Astrodome

  Governor's Cup
  Commissioner's Cup
  All-Filipino Cup

References

  1. "Chot to get P3.2M as Tigers coach". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. "Coca Cola upends FedEx". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. "Coca Cola drubs Purefoods". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  4. "Coke routs Shell". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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