Formula Shell took home its first PBA title by winning their series against Añejo Rum 65ers, four games to two. Game Six resulted in a tumultuous ending as the 65ers walked off of the playing court with 2:52 left in the second quarter and the Zoom Masters on top, 62–47. Añejo paid a total fine of P550,000.
Ronnie Magsanoc shatter a 115-all deadlock with a crucial six-point swing within 21 seconds, a three-point shot and a three-point play off a foul by Rudy Distrito that gave the lead to the Zoom Masters for good at 121–115. Bobby Parks shot nine of Shell's last eleven points in the final 2:49. The 65ers rallied back behind four straight points by Sylvester Gray to close within one, 131–132, with 13 seconds left. Bobby Parks was fouled by Añejo playing coach Robert Jaworski and his two free throws decided the outcome of the game.
Añejo led by as much as 14 points, 108–94, with six minutes to go in the final period, the never-say-die Shell Zoom Masters managed to trim down the deficit to three points, 125–128, on six triples by Ronnie Magsanoc.
Shell allowed Añejo to take the first quarter lead, 35–24, but spewed fire all over in the next three quarters, even leading by 31 points in the final quarter. Ronnie Magsanoc hit six triples and finish the game with 34 points, the Zoom Masters netted 42 points from fastbreaks and shot a high 59 percent from the field, sinking 59 of 100 tries.
Ronnie Magsanoc released seven booming triples in a career-high 36 points in a dazzling show, including a brilliant steal off Philip Cezar with few seconds left in overtime, Shell on top, 136–135.
With still 2:05 in the first quarter, Añejo leading 27–23, Rudy Distrito smacked Ronnie Magsanoc, who was attempting a three-pointer, with a hard, closed fist which sent Magsanoc crashing to the floor, the hard foul affected his shooting throughout the game. Shell's Arnie Tuadles, probably provoked for what happen to Magsanoc, also committed a dangerous foul off a driving Chito Loyzaga in the second quarter, Loyzaga suffered a swollen left eye. Both Distrito and Tuadles were eventually fined P 3,000 each.
The ULTRA, Pasig Referees: G. Ledesma, E. de Leon, R. Hines
A series of turnovers by the 65ers enabled the Zoom Masters to launch a 13-0 bomb that parlayed a rather slim 26–21 lead to a 39-21 bubble en route to a 40-26 count at the close of the first quarter. Sylvester Gray banged in 12 of Añejo's first 19 points in the second quarter, cutting the Shell lead down to a single digit, 45–53, but then Gray was whistled for his fourth personal with 5:42 before halftime. The Añejo import got his fifth as he tried to snatch the ball away from Paras with 4:01 before lemontime.
With the score pegged at 62-47 for Shell with 2:52 remaining in the second quarter, Bobby Parks squeezed in between Rey Cuenco and Dante Gonzalgo, and referee Rudy Hines slapped Cuenco with his fourth personal and from complaining too much, Rey Cuenco got a technical and this seemed to irked him more as he tapped referee Rudy Hines' nape, earning him his second technical and was ejected for the ballgame. Following an Añejo timeout and a commercial break, Añejo playing coach Robert Jaworski went to the officials table as photographers and cameramen were all over him. An angered and pre-dominantly Añejo gallery began throwing all sorts of debris that rained on the hardcourt and play had to be stopped. The 65ers went to their locker room with team manager Bernabe Navarro leading the walkout and the Zoom Masters also going to their locker. PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud gave both teams 10 minutes to get back to the hardcourt. The Shell team went back but the 65ers did not return. Commissioner Salud then gave two 90-second ultimatum for Añejo but the 65ers were never to be seen again. It was only then the Zoom Masters were declared champions by game forfeiture.
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Due to the walkout, Añejo did not claim their runner-up trophy for this championship series. The trophy is currently displayed at the PBA's head office in Libis, Quezon City.[2]
Formerly the Gilbey's Gin, St. George Whiskies, Gilbey's Gin Gimlets, Gilbey's Gin Tonics, Ginebra San Miguel, Añejo Rum 65ers, Tondeña 65 Rum Masters, Gordon's Gin Boars and Barangay Ginebra Kings
