The 2002 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals season was the 13th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Draft picks
Transactions Players Added Via Free Agency Alex Crisano (From Barangay Ginebra Kings) Kenny Evans (From Alaska Aces) Elmer Lago (From Barangay Ginebra Kings) Mark Telan (From Shell Turbo Chargers) Paul Alvarez (From FedEx Express in October 2002) Jercules Tangkay (Signed in October 2002; last played for Sta.Lucia) Via Trade Donbel Belano (From Sta. Lucia Realtors in May 2002)Players Lost Via Free Agency Gido Babilonia (To FedEx Express) Jerry Codiñera (To FedEx Express) Via Trade Gherome Ejercito (To Sta. Lucia Realtors in May 2002)
Occurrences Center Asi Taulava and guard Patrick Fran played for Philippine-Selecta team while forward Celedon Camaso played for Philippine-Hapee during the Governor's Cup. Taulava was among the 15 players chosen to play for the national team, Fran and Camaso went back to their mother ballclub starting the Commissioner's Cup.
Talk 'N Text coach Bill Bayno was fined by the PBA for lambasting the league and its commissioner for being a San Miguel Corporation-run league. For two conferences, the former University of Las Vegas coach has caused quite a stir with accusations and comments that cost him over P250,000 in record fines.
Starting the All-Filipino Cup, Talk 'N Text has tapped another American coach Paul Woolpert to replace Bill Bayno, who abandoned the Phone Pals after a short but controversial stint in the league.
Finals stint The Talk 'N Text Phone Pals reach the Commissioner's Cup finals opposite defending champion Batang Red Bull by winning over the Alaska Aces, three games to two, in their best-of-five semifinal series. The Phone Pals led in the finals series all throughout until the last two games which Red Bull won to successfully defend their Commissioner's Cup title.
Roster
Eliminations (Won games) Date Opponent Score Venue (Location) February 22 RP-Hapee 95–62 Ynares Center February 28 San Miguel 82–81 Makati Coliseum March 7 Sta. Lucia 98–96 Makati Coliseum March 16 Brgy. Ginebra 87–82 Cuneta Astrodome March 23 RP-Selecta 83–76 Ynares Center March 31 Shell 93–86 Araneta Coliseum April 6 Alaska 84–67 Philsports Arena April 9 Red Bull 98–90 Cuneta Astrodome April 20 FedEx 101–90 Philsports Arena June 16 Shell 89–72 Araneta Coliseum June 22 FedEx 96–90 Cuneta Astrodome June 27 Sta. Lucia 83–71 Cuneta Astrodome July 14 Purefoods 109–92 Ynares Center August 11 Alaska 80–76 Araneta Coliseum October 30 FedEx 69–64 Ynares Center November 9 Purefoods 78–75 Centennial Arena (Laoag City) November 15 Red Bull 77–67 Ynares Center November 24 Alaska 73–66 Araneta Coliseum December 1 Brgy. Ginebra 86–65 Araneta Coliseum
References