1999-00 Philippine Basketball League season
| 1999–2000 PBL season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | March 13, 1999 – January 31, 2000 |
| Number of teams | 9 + 2 |
| TV partner(s) | VTV (IBC) |
| Conferences | |
| 1st Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup champions | Welcoat Paints |
| Runners-up | Red Bull |
| 2nd Yakult-PBL Challenge Cup champions | Welcoat Paints |
| Runners-up | Ana Water Dispenser |
| Seasons | |
| Qualified for finals |
| Qualified for quarterfinals |
The 1999–2000 season of the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
Eliminated from the semifinals were Dr.J/Ana, Dazz and Montana. Red Bull defeats Chowking in a playoff game to advance in the finals series against Welcoat, the Paint Masters made it first via superior quotient.
A torrid third-quarter run and tight defense down the stretch was all it took for Welcoat to win their PBL championship as it held off Red Bull, 80-74, to complete a three-game sweep as the Paint Masters finally stepped out of the shadows of the Asia Brewery franchise Stag Pale Pilsen / Tanduay, which dominated the league the past three years before the latter ascended to the PBA this year. It was coach Junel Baculi's first PBL title since steering Hapee Toothpaste to the Import-Reinforced Conference title in 1996.
The Vis-Min Cup is not part of the PBL's regular conference. The special hoopfest took place starting on July 18 and the Mindanao games were held in Dapitan City. Chowking and Blu Detergent fought for the Mindanao championship after finishing at number one and two in a group that includes Hapee Fil-Am, Dapitan Dolphins and PBL member Montaña Jewels.
In the Visayas tournament held in Mandaue, Cebu City, the three non-PBL entries that joined Red Bull and Welcoat are one-time PABL champion Lhuillier Jewelers, Upland Feeds and Team Chicago Bullets.
Chowking, which beat Blu Detergent, 66-59, for the Mindanao crown, have won the overall championship by topping Visayas champion Red Bull, 69-60, to win the special tournament. Chowking coach Leo Austria's charges includes Allen Patrimonio, Christian Nicdao, Joel Co, Roger Yap and Ronald Saracho. The Robert F. Kuan franchise completed a championship sweep of six straight wins.
Chaz Perfume and Kendi Mint were guest teams.
The top 4 teams had a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round, pairings were Welcoat-Kendi Mint, Ana-Boom, Red Bull-Dazz and Blu-Chowking.
Welcoat and Red Bull meet in a best-of-three semifinals series while the two other winners of the quarterfinals are Ana Water Dispenser and Blu Detergent. Welcoat and Ana prevailed, 2 games to 1, in their respective series to set up a finals showdown.
The Paint Masters recorded their second straight "sweet sweep" with a controversial 58-56 squeaker over hard-fighting Ana Water Dispenser. Ana's Paolo Mendoza hit an off-balance three-point shot with .4 second remaining, which was nullified by the referees, saying the foul was made by Welcoat's Yancy De Ocampo before the shot, the decision of the referees not to count Mendoza's shot was loudly booed by Ana followers, had it been counted will give Ana a hairline 59-58 lead and could have prevented an outright celebration by Welcoat.
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