Late 80s PABL finals: Magnolia vs Sta.Lucia

In the 1988 Freedom Cup finals, Magnolia Ice Cream nip Sta.Lucia Realty, 87-86, in the third and final game to win their 3rd PABL title. The team had Nelson Asaytono, Paul Alvarez, Dindo Pumaren and Gido Babilonia in their lineup.

Magnolia scored a 2-0 finals sweep over Sta.Lucia in the 1989 Invitational Cup.
The Ice Cream Makers had six national mainstays, they are Gido Babilonia, Larry Villanil, Carlito Mejos, Mark Tallo and two rookies from De La Salle, Jun Limpot and Johnedel Cardel.

 In the 1989 Maharlika Cup, Magnolia again defeated Sta.Lucia for the championship as the Realtors finishes bridesmaid in all three conferences of the season. Sta.Lucia placed runner-up to Swift in the 2nd Conference.

RFM-Swifts' PABL titles in 1987 & 1988

Swifts takes on Hyundai of South Korea, led by hotshot Lee-Chung-Hee, in the opening game of the semifinal round on March 21, 1987 at the jampacked Rizal Coliseum. Hyundai was one of the three foreign teams seeded in the semifinals.

Swift Hotdogs, with borrowed players Jojo Lastimosa, Nelson Asaytono and Peter Aguilar, won the 1987 PABL First Conference International Invitational Cup crown, scoring a two-game sweep over the highly-favored YCO Shinemasters, led by Alvin Patrimonio, Ronnie Magsanoc and Glenn Capacio.

Swift Hotdogs retains the International Invitational Cup title the following year and wins their 2nd PABL crown. Alvin Patrimonio, now playing for Swift, won his last amateur crown. They defeated the Benjie Paras-led Philips Sardines in the best-of-three title series, two games to one.

More of Shell's first PBA title in 1990

Finals stats from Games One to Five.

Shell's first PBA title and the Anejo walkout

Quotes from this letter:

I respect your opinion, Mr.Bernabe Navarro (Anejo team manager), when you said, "It was my decision (to walk out). Let them (Shell) get the championship trophy. We would rather pay a fine than continue playing and risk a full-blown riot there."

But I disagree with you, Win or lose, you have a big responsibility to the fans.

Definitely, this is the darkest chapter in the history of the PBA to date. And consequently Anejo will be judged not only now but also by the next generation of basketball fans. and it will take a long time to heal this big damage.

Barreling Big J (1989)

No Big Deal: The Big J talks about their win against Purefoods in the eliminations of the 1989 Third Conference but not after losing a 12-point lead in the first quarter and even trailed by one after 12 minutes of play.

Big J said it straight that he was proud of his team after making it to the Third Conference finals by winning over Purefoods Hotdogs in a playoff.

Big J talks about being honored to be chosen Athlete of the Decade as well as Anejo's chances of stopping San Miguel's Grandslam bid after the poorly-officiated Game Two of the finals series.

Big J congratulates San Miguel for winning the Grandslam.

The Living Legend, Robert Jaworski's weekly article on Sports Flash Magazine.