2002 Batang Red Bull Thunder season

The 2002 Batang Red Bull Thunder season was the 3rd season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

2002 Batang Red Bull Thunder season
Head coach	Yeng Guiao
Governor's Cup results
Record	6–6 (.500)
Place	6th seed
Playoff finish	QF (lost to Purefoods)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	15–7 (.682)
Place	1st seed
Playoff finish	Champions
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	9–4 (.692)
Place	1st seed
Playoff finish	Semis (lost to Alaska)
Batang Red Bull Thunder seasons

Draft picks

Occurrences

Fil-foreigners Davonn Harp and Mick Pennissi were selected as aspirants for the National team in the coming Busan Asian Games in South Korea. Both players were on loan to the Philippine-Hapee toothpaste training squad during the season's first offing.

Championship

Last year's Commissioner's Cup Best Import Tony Lang came back and teamed up with fellow returnee Julius Nwosu to help Batang Red Bull retained the title they won last season. The Thunder reached the finals against Talk 'N Text Phone Pals. After four games and the series tied at two games apiece, Lang was accused of game-fixing and was replaced by NBA veteran Sean Lampley.

Batang Red Bull won their second PBA title in three years by defeating the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in seven games. The Thunder overcame a 2-3 series deficit by taking the last two games to successfully defend the Commissioner's Cup crown.

Transactions

Players Added Via Draft Homer Se Via Free Agency Oliver Agapito (From defunct Tanduay Rhum Masters) Nelson Asaytono (Signed in March 2002; from defunct Pop Cola Panthers) Vince Hizon (Last played in the MBA) Noli Locsin (From defunct Tanduay Rhum Masters) Erwin Velez (Drafted by Mobiline in 2000)

Players Lost Via Free Agency Lowell Briones (To Coca Cola Tigers) Via Trade Kerby Raymundo (To Purefoods TJ Hotdogs for next year's 1st and 2nd round picks)

Roster

Batang Red Bull roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. G 3 Torion, Jimwell 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) SCSIT F 4 Harp, Davonn 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Kutztown F 6 Locsin, Noli 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) De La Salle F 7 Pennisi, Mick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) Eastern Michigan F 8 Asaytono, Nelson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) University of Manila F 9 Mendoza, Jay 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Mapua F 10 Valenzuela, Junthy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SCSIT G 11 Miller, Willie 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Letran College G/F 12 Hizon, Vince 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ateneo de Manila G 13 Villoria, Anton 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Letran College F 15 Tugade, Lordy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) National University F 16 Se, Homer 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Sebastian F 19 Velez, Erwin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran College F 20 Reyes, Edmund 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST C 22 Agapito, Oliver 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Saint Benilde F 45 Bunn, Joe (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Phillips University F 99 Nwosu, Julius (G/C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Liberty University F 42 Lang, Antonio (G/C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Duke University F 21 Lampley, Sean (G/C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) University of California	Head coach Yeng Guiao Assistant coach(es) Roehl Nadurata Rudolf Hines Gil Lumberio Legend (C) Team captain (G) Governor's Cup Import (C) Commissioner's Cup Import Injured

Elimination round

Games won

Date	Opponent	Score	Top scorer	Venue (Location)
February 12	Shell	94-81	Joe Bunn (47 pts)	Philsports Arena [1]
February 17	FedEx	107-99	Joe Bunn (44 pts)	Araneta Coliseum
February 24	RP-Selecta	80-69		Philsports Arena
March 9	RP-Hapee	90-82		Cuneta Astrodome
March 17	Sta.Lucia	91-85		Araneta Coliseum
April 20	Purefoods	93-77		Philsports Arena
June 16	Brgy.Ginebra	81-69		Araneta Coliseum
June 23	Alaska	85-77	Tony Lang (27 pts)	Araneta Coliseum [2]
June 30	Sta.Lucia	66-62	Tony Lang (23 pts)	Araneta Coliseum
July 11	San Miguel	78-73	Julius Nwosu (21 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
July 14	Coca Cola	72-60	Tony Lang (27 pts)	Ynares Center
July 26	RP-Selecta	75-51		Ynares Center
July 28	Talk 'N Text	92-80		Araneta Coliseum
October 23	Coca Cola	76-70		Philsports Arena
October 27	Alaska	59-57		Araneta Coliseum
November 6	Sta.Lucia	66-58		Cuneta Astrodome
November 10	San Miguel	75-74 OT	Davonn Harp (20 pts)	Araneta Coliseum [3]
November 20	Purefoods	96-66		Cuneta Astrodome
November 23	Shell	82-65		Cuneta Astrodome
November 29	Brgy.Ginebra	84-67		Cuneta Astrodome
December 1	FedEx	80-77		Araneta Coliseum

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

References

1. "Hot Bunn powers Red Bull past Shell". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
2. "Red Bull upends Alaska". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
3. "Red Bull frustrates SMB". Philippine Daily Inquirer.