1995 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs season

The 1995 Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs season was the 8th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Off-season transactions[]

Summary[]

The Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs were looking forward to their eight straight finals appearance in the All-Filipino Cup. They clinch a playoff for the second finals berth on April 30, escaping with a 92-90 win over Sta.Lucia for their 10th win in 17 games and eliminating the Realtors from the finals race. Two days later, the Hotdogs were forced into a sudden-death playoff by Alaska Milkmen. On May 5, Purefoods lost to Alaska in the knockout game via 89-115 rout and were booted out in the All-Filipino finals for the first time since joining the league in 1988. The Hotdogs were swept in two games by Sta.Lucia Realtors in their best-of-three series for third place.

Last year's best import awardee Kenny Redfield, who led the Hotdogs to a championship, was not available on time and Purefoods had to settle for Adrian Branch as their import in their first three games in the Commissioners Cup. Branch debut with 40 points in the Hotdogs' 98-104 loss to Sunkist on June 11. Winless in three starts, Kenny Redfield returns and replaces Branch. Redfield led the Hotdogs to their first win against Pepsi Mega, 92-84 in Cabanatuan City on June 24. ^[1] Purefoods won five of their next six games in the elimination round and handed the Sunkist Orange Juicers their first loss after nine straight wins in a 91-81 victory on the final day of the elimination round on July 18.

In the six-team, carry-over quarterfinals, Purefoods started out with two straight wins and then lost their next two outings before making it to the final four by eliminating San Miguel Beermen, 104-103 in overtime on August 6. In the best-of-five semifinal series against Sunkist Orange Juicers, the Hotdogs forces a deciding fifth game by coming back from 15 points down early in the second quarter of Game four to win by a big margin in the final period. In Game five, Purefoods trailed by 16 points with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter but they battled back to close the gap within three points before eventually losing to Sunkist, 99-105. The Hotdogs missed out a finals stint for the second straight conference in the season and this marks the first time in franchise history.

Former San Miguel import Jay Taylor, who last played in 1992, was Purefoods' reinforcement in the Governors Cup. The Hotdogs placed second in the eliminations and tied with Alaska Milkmen at seven wins and three losses and a game behind leader Sunkist Orange Juicers. Taylor played in their first four games in the semifinals in which they lost three of their outings that hurt their chances. Taylor was replaced by Gerrod Abram, who could only lead the team to one win in four games he played as Purefoods bowed out in fifth place and missing all three championships contested in the year.

Notable dates[]

March 14: The Hotdogs' defense held Pepsi Mega to a lowest output in a 73-58 win. It was their third victory in five games in the All-Filipino Cup. Purefoods reset the lowest winning score with their total while Pepsi's anemic field goal shooting produced the lowest losing total. ^[2]

March 28: In another show of defensive prowess, Purefoods held San Miguel Beermen to the second-lowest point total of 67 points on the way to an 80-67 victory. ^[3]

July 25: Purefoods started their campaign in the single-round quarterfinals on a right track and a stern defense allowed the defending Commissioners Cup champions to escape with an 83-81 victory over Sta.Lucia Realtors. ^[4]

July 28: Purefoods dealt Sunkist with a second consecutive loss in the 85-80 victory. The Hotdogs improved their slate to eight victories against four losses. ^[5]

Roster[]

Pos. No. Player School F 1 Bong Ravena UE F 5 Edmund Reyes UST F 7 Rey Evangelista UST G 8 Emilio Chuatico Ateneo de Manila F 9 Peter Naron University of Visayas F 10 Joselito Martin NCBA G 11 Richie Ticzon Ateneo de Manila G 12 Glenn Capacio FEU F 16 Alvin Patrimonio Mapua Tech G 17 Olsen Racela Ateneo de Manila F 19 Alejandro Lim University of Visayas C 41 Jack Tanuan FEU C 44 Jerry Codinera UE F 24 Adrian Branch (C) University of Maryland F 3 (C) Michigan State University G 24 Jay Taylor (G) Eastern Illinois University G 23 (G) Boston University Position Name/s Head coach:  Chot Reyes Assistants: Eric Altamirano (C) - Commissioner's Cup import, (G) - Governor's Cup import '

_{Team Manager: Teddy Dimayuga}

References[]