1998 Gordon's Gin Boars season

The 1998 Gordon's Gin Boars season was the 20th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team revert to their former name Ginebra starting the Commissioner's Cup.

1998 Gordon's Gin Boars season
Head coach	Robert Jaworski
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	7–14 (.333)
Place	6th
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	4–7 (.364)
Place	7th
Playoff finish	N/A
Governors Cup results
Record	7–8 (.467)
Place	6th
Playoff finish	N/A
Gordon's Gin Boars seasons

Summary

Last year's All-Filipino Cup runner-up Gordon's Gin Boars had only Paul Alvarez as their newly acquired player, whom they got from sister team San Miguel Beermen when they traded their first round pick Steven Smith. The Boars won three of their first four games in the season.[1] They finish with five wins and six losses after the eliminations and tied with three other teams. The Boars placed last among the six semifinalist, winning only two out of their 10 outings.[2]

Import Chris King was recalled back for the Commissioner's Cup. The defending champions failed to defend their crown and had to win their last game against Sta.Lucia to tie the Realtors at the bottom of the standings with four wins and seven losses. Chris King already left and was replaced by Mike Cumberland in their last game in the eliminations.

In the special conference called Centennial Cup, Ginebra had the best record of six wins and two losses, the Gin Kings lost to Formula Shell in a one-game semifinal playoff.

Import problems bugged them virtually in the two-import conference from the Centennial Cup to the Governors Cup, starting with their original choices Dennis Edwards and John Strickland. After three games, Strickland was replaced by Frank Western, who played eight games while Edwards saw action in 12 games. After a four-game losing streak, Western and Edwards were replaced by Wayman Strickland and DeWayne Wesley. After one forgettable outing in Ginebra's 79–90 loss to Sta.Lucia in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Wesley was sent home and coming in was Joe Wylie, who played three games. Ginebra won only once in the Governors Cup and in a desperate bid to gain a seat in the semifinal round, coach Jaworski signed up Kenny Payne, the Philadelphia 76ers' 1st round pick in the NBA in 1989, and former Portland Trail Blazer Rick Brunson, going into their last game against Formula Shell on November 6, Payne and Brunson combined for 58 points but the Ginebras still lost, 97-107.

Occurrences

On March 31, the Living Legend of Philippine Basketball, Robert Jaworski announces he is taking a leave of absence to concentrate on the campaign trail where the Big J is running for senator in the coming Philippine presidential elections in May. Jaworski won his new ballgame in politics and claimed a seat in the Philippine Senate after the elections.

The season ended for Ginebra with Senator Robert Jaworski resigning from the La Tondeña ballclub during a press conference held in December, ending a partnership that lasted for 14 years in protest over the company's non-consultation of him in certain matters regarding the team, it all started when management accepted Allan Caidic from San Miguel Beermen as assistant playing coach without consulting the former Ginebra playing coach.

Roster

Pos. No. Player School G 1 Bal David UST F 6 Noli Locsin De La Salle G 11 Jayvee Gayoso Ateneo de Manila G 12 Vince Hizon Ateneo de Manila C 13 Marlou Aquino Adamson F 16 Benito Cheng Mapua Tech F 17 Antero Saldaña Letran C 18 Wilmer Ong University of Saint La Salle F 23 Paul Alvarez San Sebastian C 24 Cris Bolado National University G 25 Pido Jarencio UST G 52 Robert Jaworski, Jr. Ateneo de Manila F 3 Chris King (C) Wake Forest University F Mike Cumberland (C) Pepperdine University F 32 Dennis Edwards (G) Fort Hays State University F 50 John Strickland (G) Hawaii Pacific College F 45 Frank Western (G) Providence College G DeWayne Wesley (G) University of New Orleans F Wayman Strickland (G) University of San Diego G 10 Joe Wylie (G) University of Miami F 21 Kenny Payne (G) University of Louisville G Rick Brunson (G) Temple University Position Name/s Head coach:  Robert Jaworski Assistants: Rino Salazar / Philip Cezar (C) - Commissioners Cup Import, (G) - Governors Cup Import '

References

1. "Alvarez shines as Gordon's rips Pop". Manila Standard.
2. "When Jaworski and his Boars put their minds to it". Manila Standard.