1990 Añejo Rum 65ers season

Summary

The Añejo Rum 65ers, which lost four players from the expansion pool, had only two pre-season acquisitions; rookie pick Larry Villanil, formerly of Magnolia in the PBL, and veteran Freddie Hubalde, who played for Shell last season. In the First Conference, the Rum Masters brought in Glenn Dedmon, a recommendee by Carlos Briggs, their import from last conference, as their reinforcement. Dedmon played six games and led the 65ers to four victories, he was replaced by Sylvester Gray, who immediately made an impact in their 120–106 win over league-leader Formula Shell on March 20, with Sly Gray, whose real height was questioned by other teams earlier, the 65ers went on a winning streak of seven games (eight overall) for an 11–2 won-loss record before their winning run was halted in the first round of semifinals by Presto Tivoli, 113–115 on April 17. Añejo Rum lost two straight games at the start of second round of the semifinals for a three-game losing streak but clinch the second finals berth on April 24 and arranged a title clash with Formula Shell, by routing Presto Tivoli, 150–113. In the first championship of the 1990s era, crowd-favorite Añejo Rum lost to Formula Shell in the finals which ended in a walkout by the 65ers in Game 6, the Añejo coaching staff found the officiating too close for comfort as they were assessed a total of 20 fouls with import Sylvester Gray saddled with 5 fouls with still four minutes left in the second quarter, the two technicals slapped by referees Rudy Hines and Ernie De leon on Añejo forward Rey Cuenco, triggered the walkout, led by Team Manager Bernabe Navarro, with still 2:52 left in the second period of Game 6, the Shell Zoom Masters on top, 62–47.

In the All-Filipino Conference, Añejo Rum won their first game against sister team San Miguel, 105-89 on June 12. The 65ers raced to a 7–3 won-loss slate in the elimination round, tied at second with Purefoods Hotdogs, they lost their first three games in the semifinals but rebound to win the last five to avail the win-5 incentive, defeating Purefoods Hotdogs, 136–125 on August 14 for the magic number fifth win and assured itself of a playoff. Añejo lost to the San Miguel Beermen, 117–132, two nights later on August 16 in a knockout game for the right to meet Presto Tivoli in another sudden-death playoff to determine Purefoods Hotdogs' finals opponent. The 65ers placed third with a 3–1 series win over San Miguel Beermen.

Last year's best import Carlos Briggs return and teamed up with Toney Mack for the Third Conference. The 65ers missed the services early of playing-coach Robert Jaworski, assistant coach Rino Salazar, and three key players; Chito Loyzaga, Dante Gonzalgo and Rey Cuenco, who were members of the all-pro team in the Beijing Asian Games. Compounding their woes was the exit of Carlos Briggs, whose attitude problems convince management to replace him after just three games in favor of Darryl Joe. The 65ers did not advance in the semifinal round, winning four of their 10 games in the eliminations and were ousted by Purefoods Hotdogs, 118–130 in their last game on November 8, wherein playing-coach Sonny Jaworski committed a punching foul on Purefoods import Robert Paul Rose. The Big J let go of a flying elbow with seconds left of an already won ballgame by the Hotdogs. The Añejo playing-coach was fined and suspended for one game, which took effect the following season.

Roster

_{Assistant Coach: Rino Salazar Team Manager: Bernabe Navarro}