2002 Coca Cola Tigers season

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

2002 Coca Cola Tigers season
Head coach	Chot Reyes
Owner(s)	Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.
Governor's Cup results
Record	12–6 (.667)
Place	2nd seed
Playoff finish	Semis (lost to Purefoods)
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	7–5 (.583)
Place	5th seed
Playoff finish	QF (lost to SMB)
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	12–5 (.706)
Place	3rd seed
Playoff finish	Champions
Coca Cola Tigers seasons

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 Freddie Abuda (From San Miguel Beermen; originally traded to Tanduay) Lowell Briones (From Batang Red Bull Thunder) Jeffrey Cariaso (From Tanduay Rhum Masters) Jovie Sese (Pick by Pop Cola last year) Absorbed 8 players from Pop Cola

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
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G/F 3 Manalo, Jojo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) UPHSD C 4 Reavis, Rafi 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Coppin State F 8 Briones, Lowell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) University of Visayas C 9 Lao, Gilbert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) UST G 10 Morano, Renato 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) San Beda College F 12 Gamboa, Allan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) State U G 14 Abarrientos, Johnny 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern F 15 Misolas, Jason 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran College F 16 Ballesteros, Estong 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UST G 18 Avenido, Leo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern G 22 Cariaso, Jeffrey 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State C 24 Bolado, Cris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National University F 25 Abuda, Freddie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) University of Cebu C Sese, Jovie 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) MLQU G 31 Antonio, William 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade C 32 Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) State U F 99 Hatfield, Rudy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Michigan-Dearborn G 26 Ellis, Rosell (G) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) McNeese State F 22 Williams, Fred (G) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Alabama-Birmingham F 22 Hale, Ron (G/C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Florida State F/C Basemore, Bryant (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) Fort Hays State F Braggs, Torraye (C) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Xavier University F Daniel, Carlos (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Washington State	Head coach Chot Reyes Assistant coach(es) Biboy Ravanes Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (G) Governor's Cup Import (C) Commissioner's Cup Import Injured

Elimination round

Games won

Date	Opponent	Score	Top scorer	Venue (Location)
February 10	FedEx	66-62	Rosell Ellis (24 pts)	Araneta Coliseum [2]
February 22	San Miguel	85-79	Fred Williams (31 pts)	Ynares Center
March 3	Purefoods	89-69	Ron Hale (40 pts)	Philsports Arena
March 9	Brgy.Ginebra	82-74	Ron Hale (28 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
March 16	Alaska	79-53		Cuneta Astrodome
April 4	Red Bull	96-77		Makati Coliseum
April 7	RP-Selecta	70-66		Araneta Coliseum
April 14	Talk 'N Text	95-90	Ron Hale (42 pts)	Araneta Coliseum
June 18	FedEx	110-82		Cuneta Astrodome
June 22	Shell	78-70	Ron Hale (35 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
July 4	Brgy.Ginebra	70-65	Ron Hale (29 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
July 9	Purefoods	91-72	Ron Hale (27 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome [3]
July 19	Talk 'N Text	94-91	Bryant Basemore (34 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
August 8	RP-Selecta	74-62	Ron Hale (26 pts)	Cuneta Astrodome
October 27	Shell	80-52	Jeffrey Cariaso (23 pts)	Araneta Coliseum [4]
November 3	Purefoods	83-58	Rudy Hatfield (17 pts)	Araneta Coliseum
November 8	Brgy.Ginebra	85-63		Cuneta Astrodome
November 13	FedEx	75-69	Jeffrey Cariaso (18 pts)	Philsports Arena
November 20	Sta.Lucia	67-53		Cuneta Astrodome
November 29	Talk 'N Text	92-84		Cuneta 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.