Coca-Cola Tigers

(known as Coca Cola Tigers)



Team History:

Handled by multi-awarded and multi-titled coach Chot Reyes, the Tigers, despite its newcomer status in 2002 managed to win the third conference championship in its maiden year, becoming the fastest team in history to achieve such a feat.

The Tigers were built around former Pop Cola players Jeffrey Cariaso, Johnny Abarrientos, and Rudy Hatfield. The following year, they would win the Third Conference again on the efforts of former Mobiline import Artemus McClary against sister team San Miguel in seven grueling games to win their second PBA crown.

The team struggled in the 2004-2005 PBA Philippine Cup after the indefinite suspension of Rudy Hatfield due to citizenship issues. Chemistry also suffered tremendously with the mid-season trade of Jeffrey Cariaso and Reynel Hugnatan to Alaska for the Fil-am tandem of Ali Peek and John Arigo. To make matters worse, coach Chot Reyes was appointed as the National Team coach and the Tigers were left with a team that was dysfunctional as it was leaderless. The team tried to offset Reyes’ loss with the hiring of former Purefoods and Mobiline coach Eric Altamirano but the Tigers couldn’t find a way to win. Soon, Altamirano was given the pinkslip and was replaced by former assistant Binky Favis.

The team rebuilt through the draft, grabbing Denok Miranda to serve as an understudy to Abarrientos. When Abarrientos left for Ginebra, Denok assumed the starting point guard chores. In just a year, however, Miranda was traded to Coca Cola for Fil-Am guard Alex Cabagnot and Kenneth Duremdes. Prior to the start of the 2006-07 season, the Tigers created a lot of fuss by trading away their three Fil-Am stars Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavis and Rudy Hatfield to sister team Barangay Ginebra Kings for virtually nothing. The deal left the team with only Ali Peek as the lone source of inside strength.

The Tigers announced the sale of its franchise to Coca Cola International, leaving SMC with only three pro teams, making itself as an independent, non-SMC team.

Review of the 2006-07 Season:

Philippine Cup: Before the season could even start, the Tigers were already walking like dead men as Brgy. Ginebra raided its three frontcourt stars (Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavies and Rudy Hatfield), leaving only Ali Peek to man the middle. It was only natural therefore that Coca Cola, and newcomer Welcoat were considered as experts’ choice to share the doormat before the start of the season. Despite its underdog status, however, the team managed to pull off several upsets, including one over Alaska on Denok Miranda’s clutch plays down the stretch in the wildcard opener to deny the Aces a possible playoff spot for the last quarterfinal slot. The Tigers unveiled sensational rookie Chris Pacana who turned in more impressive numbers than the one they drafted 3rd overall in the draft Joseph Yeo. A 122-75 blowout loss to Sta. Lucia in its next game dashed its championship aspirations goodbye.

Fiesta Cup: The Tigers actually had good start winning 3 games in the team’s first 4 games with exciting import Anthony Johnson putting on a show. Then they went on a dry spell, losing four straight games and soon Johnson was gone. He was replaced by Jeff Varem, a barreling 6-6 board master but he too couldn’t push the Tigers out of the doldrums. After 8 games, he was replaced by super import Rashad Bell. Bell was like manna straight from heaven. He provided the leadership, the game, and the X-factor needed to push them on top. He pushed the Beermen to the brink of elimination in the quarters but the team’s failure to execute in the end game and costly errors denied them of a semis slot.

Biggest Blunders:

What could be worse than trading your three big marquee big men (Billy Mamaril, Rafi Reavies, and Rudy Hatfield) for Manny Ramos et al? Well, if you suddenly have to give your franchise up for sale, would you have done the same? Coca Cola management now under a new management would find it difficult to veto the trade. What could you veto if you do not own it in the first place? In its first transaction as a non-SMC team, Coca Cola dealt away promising playmaker Denok Miranda to Sta. Lucia for Fil-am Alex Cabagnot and veteran Kenneth Duremdes. While the deal hardly tilted the balance in favor of one team talent-wise, it boggles the mind why they had to take on a humungous contract for a player on the slide. Duremdes is now only a shadow of his own self and his age and injuries prevent him from contributing his usual numbers on the floor. Cabagnot also carries a lot of excess baggage. Two years ago, after Coca Cola picked him in the draft, Cabagnot refused to signed the dotted line and contemplated on returning back to study abroad. Last summer, he played Summer League ball in the US against league rules and was almost banned from the league. Miranda is not a bad player to begin with and has a lot of promise despite his age. Whether the Tigers made the right decision can only be determined by time.