1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers season
| 1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers season | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Head coach | Yeng Guiao | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner(s) | RFM Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1991 Diet Sarsi Sizzlers Season was the 2nd season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team was known as Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs in the Third Conference.
Off-season transactions
| TRANSACTIONS |
|---|
| Alfonso Solis Offered a two-year package worth 2.8 million contract which Purefoods didn't match |
| Elpidio Villamin Acquired in a trade that sent Elmer Reyes to Alaska |
| Ricardo Marata Acquired in a trade that sent Nap Hatton to Alaska |
| Edgar Macaraya Rookie free agent signed |
Occurrences
Sizzlers' former import Lewis Lloyd replaces Kenny Sanders after Diet Sarsi lost their first game, 83-98 to Presto Tivoli. Lloyd played two games and led his team to one victory, got injured and was replaced by Bernard Thompson.
On April 14, the Sizzlers signed up Purefoods' back-up center Jack Tanuan, whose contract with the Hotdogs expired a week before.
The PBA office fined the RFM franchise P50,000 and Purefoods forward Alvin Patrimonio P10,000 for tampering a contract.
Beginning the Third Conference, Diet Sarsi change its team name to Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs, a brand the RFM Company has been carrying during their amateur days.
Notable dates
March 7: Diet Sarsi snapped a four-game winning run of erstwhile unbeaten Purefoods in a 103-96 win. Al Solis, a former hotdogs who played a big role in their last year's title-conquest, hit a jumper off a foul by Elmer Reyes and completed a three-point play to give Sarsi a six-point cushion with 2:39 left in the game. [1]
July 4: The Sizzlers raise their won-loss record to 6-1 and on top of the standings in the All-Filipino Conference, dealing Purefoods its first defeat in five games by winning over the Tender Juicy Hotdogs, 102-98. [2]
July 14: With only four seconds left and San Miguel up by two, 104-102, Al Solis hurriedly unleashed a perfect three-point shot to steal the game from the Beermen, 105-104. Solis' buzzer beating triple spoiled a career-high 44-point production by beermen' Ato Agustin. San Miguel put the game under protest as coach Norman Black contested that the clock didn't move when Solis received the inbound pass, but the Beermen later decided not to file a protest and accepted their second loss from the Sizzlers. [3]
Finals stint
On August 20, Diet Sarsi defeated San Miguel Beermen, 100-95, in a playoff game to advance in the finals series in only their fifth conference. The Sizzlers lost to Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs in the All-Filipino championship.
Roster
| ROSTER | # | POS | HT | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonny Cabatu | 5 | Center | 6"5' | PSBA |
| Ricardo Cui | 6 | Guard-Forward | 6"3' | Lyceum of the Philippines |
| Edgar Macaraya | 7 | Guard-Forward | 6"0' | San Sebastian College |
| Al Solis | 8 | Guard | 5"11' | University of Visayas |
| Joseph Pelaez Release by Sarsi upon signing Jack Tanuan | 11 | Center | 6"5' | University of Manila |
| Elpidio Villamin | 13 | Forward-Center | 6"3' | |
| Joey Loyzaga | 14 | Guard | 6"1' | San Beda College |
| Terry Saldaña | 17 | Forward | 6"3' | Letran (Juniors) |
| Ric-Ric Marata | 23 | Guard | 5"8' | South Western University |
| Pido Jarencio | 25 | Guard | 5"10' | University of Santo Tomas |
| Alejandro De Guzman | 26 | Forward | 6"2' | Far Eastern University |
| Jack Tanuan Acquired from Purefoods | 41 | Center | 6"5' | Far Eastern University |
| Bernie Fabiosa Signed as a free agent | 51 | Guard | 5"9' | University of the East |
| Kenny Sanders 1st conference import | 33 | Center-Forward | 6"4' | George Mason University |
| Lewis Lloyd 1st conference import | 32 | Center-Forward | 6"4' | Drake University |
| Bernard Thompson 1st conference import | 34 | Center-Forward | 6"4' | Fresno State University |
| Kelvin Upshaw 3rd conference import | 77 | Guard | 6"1' | University of Utah |
Assistant Coach: Roehl Nadurata Team Manager: Elmer Yanga