1998 Formula Shell Zoom Masters season

The 1998 Formula Shell Super Unleaded season was the 14th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1998 Formula Shell season
Head coach	Chito Narvasa Perry Ronquillo
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	4–7 (.364)
Place	8th
Playoff finish	N/A
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	9–10 (.474)
Place	4th
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Governor's Cup results
Record	17–12 (.586)
Place	1st
Playoff finish	Finals
Formula Shell seasons

Off-season transactions

TRANSACTIONS
Noy Castillo ^2nd overall pick chosen by San Miguel; Acquired from the Beermen in a trade with their top draft pick Danny Ildefonso
Joel Dualan ^Drafted Rookie
Gerald Esplana ^Acquired from Sta.Lucia when they traded Ronnie Magsanoc
Chris Jackson ^Acquired from Sta.Lucia when they traded their rights in next year's first round pick

Notable date

February 17: Richie Ticzon attempted a desperation three-pointer and was fouled by Boars forward Noli Locsin. He sank all three free throws to give Shell an 86-85 overtime victory over Gordon's Gin for their first win of the season after losing their first four games in the All-Filipino Cup. Victor Pablo led the Zoom Masters valiant effort with 33 points, 13 in the fourth quarter. [1]

Occurrences

Coach Chito Narvasa has filed a leave of absence with only four games left for the Zoom Masters in the All-Filipino Cup eliminations. Assistant coach Perry Ronquillo was named interim coach and led the team to three victories but failed to advance in the next round. [2]

Shell's former coach Chito Narvasa has moved over to the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs as their new coach beginning the Commissioner's Cup.

Bobby Parks played two games in the Commissioner's Cup before John Best on his third stint in the PBA takes over as the Zoom Masters' import.

Shell release Estong Ballesteros to the Pangasinan Presidents in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) during the middle of the year. Shell was fined P50,000 for failing to inform the PBA office.

Championship

John Best teamed up with the streak-shooting Donald Williams for the Centennial Cup and Governors Cup tournament. Shell beat Ginebra in their semifinal playoff, 78-75 in overtime on October 4, to reach the Centennial Cup finals against Mobiline, Williams finish that game with 39 points and hitting eight triples. In a one-game championship on October 6, Shell lost to Mobiline in overtime by a point, 66-67.

In the Governor's Cup, John Best and Donald Williams wouldn't be denied as the Zoom Masters exact revenge on the Mobiline Phone Pals, the two teams played in the finals after they knock off San Miguel Beermen and Purefoods respectively in sudden-death playoffs when all four semifinalist finish with identical 12 wins and 9 losses. Shell won over Mobiline in an exciting seven-game series by coming back from a 2-3 series deficit to win the last two games and clinch their third PBA title and the first in six years.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School F 3 Chris Jackson San Bernardino G 4 Noy Castillo Citadel College F 8 Alejandro Lim University of Visayas F 9 Jay Mendoza Mapua Tech G 10 Richard Ticzon Ateneo de Manila G 12 Porferio Marzan University of Baguio C 14 Benjie Paras UP-Diliman F 16 Estong Ballesteros UST F 19 Joel Dualan University of Manila G 30 Gerald Esplana FEU G 31 Rommel Santos College of Staten Island C 32 Joselito Escobar UE F 33 Victor Pablo FEU F 22 Bobby Parks (C) Memphis State University F 25 John Best (C/G) Tennessee Technological University G 21 Donald Williams (G) University of North Carolina Position Name/s Head coach:  Perry Ronquillo Assistants: Joey Guanio (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

References

1. "Shell in the win column, finally". Manila Standard.
2. "Paras' return puts zest into Shell's game". Manila Standard.