PBA Reinforced Conference

The PBA Reinforced Conference was a tournament held during a Philippine Basketball Association season from 1985-1989, and again in 2003. The tournament usually allows team to hire one or two imports, although the 2003 edition rules that teams sign foreign players with a height-limit of 6-4 below.

History

The first edition of the tournament began in the 1985 PBA season with guest team, the famed Northern Consolidated RP national squad winning over Manila Beer, via a four-game sweep.

A year later, Tanduay defeated Great Taste to win the title. But, from 1987-1989, San Miguel Beer dominated the tournament. In 1987, they defeated the Hills Bros Coffee Kings in five games. A season later, the Beermen beat Shell, 4-1, and in 1989, they beat arch-rival Anejo Rhum, to complete the 1989 grand slam.

The tournament took a hiatus for the next 14-years, before new commissioner Noli Eala, revived the conference in 2003. The tournament allowed teams to take an import, with a maximum height limit of 6-4 below. The Coca-Cola Tigers, defeated sister team, and defending champion San Miguel Beermen (technically defending the titles won from 1987-1989) in seven games.

In 2004, the league scrapped the said name, replacing it with the PBA Fiesta Conference.

Reinforced Conference Champions

• 1985: Northern Consolidated Cement def. Manila Beer, 4-0
• 1986: Tanduay Rhum def. Great Taste, 4-2
• 1987: San Miguel Beer def. Hills Bros Coffee Kings, 4-1
• 1988: San Miguel Beer def. Shell, 4-1
• 1989: San Miguel Beer def. Añejo Rhum 65, 4-1
• 1990 - 2002 PBA season: Not played
• 2003: Coca-Cola Tigers def. San Miguel Beermen, 4-3

Reinforced Conference individual awards

• 1985
  • Best Import Award: Michael Hackett (Ginebra San Miguel)
• 1986
  • Best Import Award: Rob Williams (Tanduay)
• 1987
  • Best Import Award: David Thirdkill (Tanduay)
• 1988
  • Best Import Award: Jamie Walker (Ginebra San Miguel)
• 1989
  • Best Import Award: Bobby Parks (Shell)
• 2003
  • Best Player of the Conference: Rudy Hatfield (Coca-Cola)
  • Best Import Award: Artemus McClary (Coca-Cola)

See also

• Philippine Basketball Association Champions

External links

• PBA.ph