1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season

The 1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season was the sixth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors season
Head coach	Derrick Pumaren
Owner(s)	Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation
All-Filipino Cup results
Record	12–11 (52.2%)
Place	4th
Playoff finish	Semifinals
Commissioner's Cup results
Record	4–7 (36.4%)
Place	8th
Playoff finish	Eliminated
Governor's Cup results
Record	5–10 (33.3%)
Place	8th
Playoff finish	Eliminated
Sta. Lucia Realtors seasons

Draft pick

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College
1	6	Aramis Calpito	Philippines	San Sebastian

Summary

Under new coach Derrick Pumaren, Sta.Lucia won their first four games in the All-Filipino Cup. However, the Realtors lost their last five outings in the eliminations and dropped to five wins and six losses. In the semifinal round, the Realtors won four of their first five games which includes victories over the top two teams, Alaska and San Miguel. The Realtors clinched a playoff spot for a second finals berth via win 7-of-10 semifinals incentive when it defeated Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies, 92–77 on April 14. Having beaten the Alaska Milkmen twice in the semifinals, the Sta.Lucia Realtors blew a golden opportunity to advance in the finals series for the first time in franchise history when they bowed to the Milkmen, 69-77, in their playoff game on April 21 for the right to face San Miguel Beermen for the All-Filipino Cup crown.

In the Commissioner's Cup, after losing their first game to San Miguel in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Sta.Lucia import Melvin Cheatum abandoned the team and left quickly, he could only score four points in a brief stint. The Realtors scored their first win in their next game playing all-Filipino. Former Pepsi import and one-time Best Import awardee Ronnie Coleman is on his third year of duty and was tapped to play for Sta.Lucia. The Realtors ended up last place in the conference.

Sans the duo of Jun Limpot and Dennis Espino, who were members of the national team, the Realtors chalk up only one win in eight outings during the Centennial Cup and their lone victory came after replacing imports Jojo English and Kirk King with the tandem of Andre Perry and Bobby Allen, who played for Sta.Lucia three years ago. With one game left in their Centennial Cup campaign, Allen was replaced by Joseph Temple, who teamed up with Perry for the rest of their games in the Governor's Cup. The Realtors won four of their next seven matches but still fell short and placed last anew.

Notable dates

February 3: Limpot scored a game-high 34 points as the Realtors thrashed the Shell Zoom Masters, 85-69.

February 15: Sta.Lucia leads by 20 points in the second half and coasted to an 83-72 rout off Pop Cola for its fourth straight win and leadership in the All-Filipino Cup.

March 24: Ronnie Magsanoc canned two free throws off Johnny Abarrientos' foul to hold back title favorite Alaska Milkmen, 77-74, for its second win in three starts in the semifinals.

March 27: The Realtors bested San Miguel Beermen for the first time in the season, 78-70, with Jack Santiago filled in Magsanoc's shoes nicely as he scored a career high 18 points.

Roster

1998 Sta. Lucia Realtors roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 1 Webb, Jason 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) De La Salle G 4 Santiago, Gerardo 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Mapúa G 5 Magsanoc, Ronnie 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) UP Diliman F/C 7 del Rosario, Richard 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) De La Salle G/F 9 Cabahug, Boy 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Visayas F 10 Calpito, Aramis 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Sebastian F 11 Falcasantos, Expedito 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cebu G/F 14 Briones, Lowell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Visayas F/C 16 Espino, Dennis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) UST F 57 dela Rosa, Romeo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Southwestern-U F/C 72 Limpot, Jun 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) La Salle

Head coach Derrick Pumaren Assistant coach(es) Adonis Tierra Ricky Cui Joshua Villapando Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Transactions

Trades

Off-season	To Shell Gerald Esplana	To Sta. Lucia Ronnie Magsanoc
Off-season	To Mobiline Gabby Cui	To 'Sta. Lucia Richard del Rosario
July 1998	To Mobiline Jose Francisco	To Sta. Lucia Lowell Briones

Recruited imports

Tournament	Name	Number	Position	University/College	Duration
Commissioner's Cup	Melvin Cheatum	44	Forward	University of Alabama	May 23 (one game)
	Ronnie Coleman	24	Center	Southern California	May 30 to July 7
Governors' Cup	Jo Jo English	3	Guard-Forward	South Carolina	August 28 to September 6
	Kirk King	32	Forward	University of Connecticut	August 28 to September 6
	Andre Perry	21	Forward	University of Alabama	September 13 to November 3
	Robert Francis Allen	44	Guard	UTPA	September 13-26
	Joseph Temple	24	Guard	University of San Diego	September 29 to November 3