1988 PBA Open Conference Finals
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| Dates | May 26 – June 9, 1988 | |||||||||
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| Television | Vintage Sports (PTV) | |||||||||
| Radio network | DZSR | |||||||||
The 1988 PBA Open Conference Finals was the best-of-7 series basketball championship of the 1988 PBA Open Conference, and the conclusion of the conference playoffs. The San Miguel Beermen and Purefoods Hotdogs, aiming for a cinderella finish, played for the 39th championship contested by the league.
The San Miguel Beermen repeated as back-to-back champions, denying the Purefoods Hotdogs a first title in its maiden season in the PBA, the Beermen won in a seven-game series by taking the last two games. The best-of-seven finals went the full distance for only the second time in league history.
San Miguel took advantage of the Hotdogs' sluggish start and led 27-11 early, the Beermen padded their margin to 23 points at 51-28 in the second quarter and took a 62-47 lead at halftime. Purefoods could only come closer to six points, 80-86, barely a minute into the fourth period.
After allowing the Beermen to score lots of points in the series opener, the Hotdogs put up a tough, defensive stand to limit San Miguel's output. Purefoods led by 18 points at 72-54 in the third quarter but the Beermen reduced their lead to just two in the final period, David Thirdkill came to the rescue and score seven of the Hotdogs' last nine points to sealed the victory.
Rookie Jojo Lastimosa put on a show as he led Purefoods to a 22-4 blitz that turn an 84-74 San Miguel lead to a 96-88 Purefoods win. Back-to-back triples by Lastimosa and Al Solis pushed the Hotdogs to within four, 80-84. The Beermen were ahead by three points, 88-85, when Purefoods called a timeout and eleven unanswered points by the Hotdogs followed with Lastimosa's three-point play gave them the lead for good at 90-88.
San Miguel led by 17 points early in the third quarter. But down the stretch was another Purefoods comeback. A three-point play by Jojo Lastimosa tied the count at 84-all. Elmer Reyes sent the Beermen back on top with a lay-up, successive hits by Lastimosa and Jerry Codinera put the Hotdogs out front, 88-86, with just a little over two minutes left in the fourth period. David Thirdkill was saddled with five fouls and had only scored 18 points. San Miguel got a lift on the next play as Abet Guidaben knocked in a 12-footer and drew a foul from Ramon Fernandez. Abet made the free throw for a one-point lead by San Miguel, 89-88. On the next play, Thirdkill muffed a jumper, Guidaben came back with another basket to give the Beermen a three-point margin, 91-88. Again, Purefoods went to Thirdkill for the hit and he failed. With the time down to eight seconds, Hector Calma drove in and got a foul from Al Solis, he converted both of his free throws for a finishing 7-0 run as San Miguel level the series at two games apiece. Playing coach Norman Black outscored Thirdkill, 20-18, for the second time in the playoffs. The Beermen were unable to field Ricardo Brown, who had to sit out the game on his physician's orders.
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