2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup

Format

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:

• The teams were divided into 2 groups. Group A:

1. Alaska Aces
2. Purefoods TJ Hotdogs
3. San Miguel Beermen
4. Sta. Lucia Realtors
5. Tanduay Rhum Masters Group B:
6. Barangay Ginebra Kings
7. Batang Red Bull Thunder
8. Mobiline Phone Pals
9. Pop Cola Panthers
10. Shell Turbo Chargers

• Teams in a group will play against each other once and against teams in the other group twice; 14 games per team.
• The top eight teams after the eliminations will advance to the quarterfinals.
• Quarterfinals:
  • Top four teams will have a twice-to-beat advantage against their opponent.
  • QF1: #1 vs. #8
  • QF2: #2 vs. #7
  • QF3: #3 vs. #6
  • QF4: #4 vs. #5
• Best-of-five semifinals:
  • SF1: QF1 vs. QF4
  • SF2: QF2 vs. QF3
• Third-place playoff: losers of the semifinals
• Best-of-seven finals: winners of the semifinals

Elimination round

Team standings

Eighth seed playoff

Mobiline had a better quotient on their games among Shell and Barangay Ginebra hence they were awarded with the #7 seed.

Bracket

(Top 4 twice-to-beat) (Best-of-5) (Best-of-7)

| RD1-seed1=1 | RD1-team1=Tanduay | RD1-score1-1=101 | RD1-seed2=8 | RD1-team2=Brgy. Ginebra | RD1-score2-1=78

| RD1-seed3=4 | RD1-team3=Purefoods | RD1-score3-1=68 | RD1-score3-2=89 | RD1-seed4=5 | RD1-team4=Sta. Lucia | RD1-score4-1=93 | RD1-score4-2=79

| RD1-seed5=2 | RD1-team5=San Miguel | RD1-score5-1=82 | RD1-seed6=7 | RD1-team6=Mobiline | RD1-score6-1=61

| RD1-seed7=3 | RD1-team7=Alaska | RD1-score7-1=81 | RD1-seed8=6 | RD1-team8=Pop Cola | RD1-score8-1=67

| RD2-seed1=1 | RD2-team1=Tanduay | RD2-score1=1 | RD2-seed2=4 | RD2-team2=Purefoods | RD2-score2=3

| RD2-seed3=2 | RD2-team3=San Miguel | RD2-score3=1 | RD2-seed4=3 | RD2-team4=Alaska | RD2-score4=3

| RD3-seed1=4 | RD3-team1=Purefoods | RD3-score1=1 | RD3-seed2=3 | RD3-team2=Alaska | RD3-score2=4

| RD3-seed3=1 | RD3-team3=Tanduay | RD3-score3=103 | RD3-seed4=2 | RD3-team4=San Miguel | RD3-score4=92

Quarterfinals

(1) Tanduay vs. (8) Barangay Ginebra

(2) San Miguel vs. (7) Mobiline

(3) Alaska vs. (6) Pop Cola

(4) Purefoods vs. (5) Sta. Lucia

Semifinals

(1) Tanduay vs. (4) Purefoods

:On May 22, PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino forfeited Tanduay's Games 2 and 3 victories in favor of Purefoods for the deportation of Sonny Alvarado. Purefoods now leads the series 2–1. The day after Tanduay swept the series 3–0, the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) revoked Sonny Alvarado's Filipino citizenship as it uncovered that the player used fraudulent papers; consequently, the BID ordered Alvarado's deportation. This caused PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino to forfeit two of Tanduay's semifinal wins (Games 2 and 3) since Alvarado played in those games (he didn't play in the first game). The league earlier forfeited Batang Red Bull's wins when 18-year-old Kerby Raymundo was found to have deficient academic credentials. With the forfeitures, the series would have resumed on Game 4 with Purefoods leading the series 2–1; however, Tanduay secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) that prevented the league from staging Game 4 of their series.{{cite news |access-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818070212/http://www.inquirer.net/issues/may2000/may24/sports/spo_main.htm |archive-date=August 18, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010209014334/http://www.pba.com.ph/arcdnews/news83.htm |archive-date=February 9, 2001 |url-status=dead

PBA legal counsel Butch Cleofe warned that Tanduay faced suspension from the league, a hefty fine and even expulsion when it fails to show up on the May 26 playdate. A P500,000 fine faced the franchise plus other penalties the commissioner may impose.{{cite news |access-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818070622/http://www.inquirer.net/issues/may2000/may26/sports/spo_main.htm |archive-date=August 18, 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818070824/http://www.inquirer.net/issues/may2000/may27/sports/spo_main.htm |archive-date=August 18, 2000 |url-status=dead

When Game 4 was finally played, the game went into overtime; Purefoods' Boyet Fernandez converted a three-point field goal with 0.2 of a second remaining to seal Purefoods' unlikely Finals qualification against 1990s rival Alaska.

(2) San Miguel vs. (3) Alaska

Third place playoff

Finals

Main article: 2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup finals

Alaska won the title on Game 5 despite trailing by six points late in the fourth quarter; Rodney Santos and Poch Juinio carried the scoring slack when Bong Hawkins and Johnny Abarrientos had bad starts. Abarrientos was able to make it up by hitting a jump-shot to give the Milkmen the lead 85–82. Noy Castillo converted both free-throws to cut the lead to one. Alaska missed four free-throws, including two intentional misses by James Wallkvist with 0.5 of a second remaining to clinch their first All-Filipino championship since 1998. Alvin Patrimonio had a series-best 22 points but went scoreless at the final quarter that helped Alaska to catch up.

References

References

1. Arcano, Jong. "PBA rejects Tanduay offer". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
2. Reyes, Marc Anthony. "Game 4 today; sanctions sought". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].
3. Reyes, Marc Anthony. "Purefoods-Alaska Game 1 today". [[Philippine Daily Inquirer]].