The 1998 Gordon's Gin Boars season was the 20th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The team return to their former name Ginebra San Miguel starting the Commissioner's Cup.
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Summary
Last year's All-Filipino Cup runner-up Gordon's Gin Boars had only Paul Alvarez as their newly-acquired player, whom they got from sister team San Miguel Beermen when they traded their first round pick Steven Smith. The Boars won three of their first four games in the season, they finish with five wins and six losses after the eliminations, the Boars advances in the semifinal round where they placed last among the six semifinalist, winning only two of their 10 semifinal matches.
Import Chris King was back for the Commissioner's Cup, the defending champions revert to their former name Ginebra San Miguel and failed to defend their crown, placed seventh and had to win their last game against Sta.Lucia to tie the Realtors at the bottom of the standings with 4 wins and 7 losses, Chris King already left and was replaced by Mike Cumberland in their last game in the eliminations.
In the special conference called Centennial Cup, Ginebra emerged with the best record with 6 wins and 2 losses but they lost to Formula Shell in a one game semifinal playoff and place fourth, import problems bugged them virtually in the two-import conference from the Centennial Cup to the Governor's Cup, starting with their original choices Dennis Edwards and the comical John Strickland, after three games, Strickland was replaced by Frank Western, who played eight games while Edwards this time saw action in 12 games for Ginebra, both Western and Edwards lost their job too and were replaced by Wayman Strickland and DeWayne Wesley, after one forgetable outing, Wesley was sent home for Joe Wylie, who played three games. Ginebra won only once in the Governor's Cup and in a desperate bid to gain a seat in the semifinal round, coach Jaworski signed up Kenny Payne, the Philadelphia 76ers' 1st round pick in the NBA in 1989, and former Portland Trail Blazer Rick Brunson, going into their last game against Formula Shell on November 6, despite the combined 58-point output by Payne and Brunson, the Ginebras still lost, 97-107.
Occurrences
On March 31, the Living Legend of Philippine Basketball, Robert Jaworski announces he is taking a leave of absence to concentrate on the campaign trail where the Big J is running for senator in the coming Philippine presidential elections in May. Jaworski won his new ballgame in politics and claimed a seat in the Philippine Senate after the elections.
The season ended for Ginebra with Senator Robert Jaworski resigning from the La Tondeña ballclub during a press conference held in December, ending a partnership that lasted for 14 years, in protest over the company's non-consultation of him in certain matters regarding the team, it all started when management accepted Allan Caidic from San Miguel Beermen as assistant playing coach without consulting the former Ginebra playing coach.