Team's Biggest Blunder  

In 1988 All-Filipino Conference finals against Anejo Rhum, Purefoods, although only with a one conference experience in the PBA, was the favorite to bring home the crown what with the likes of super rookies Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera and Jojo Lastimosa, veterans Ramon Fernandez and other ex-Tanduay stalwarts providing enough firepower to the rookie team. Only one game turned the season around for the Hotdogs. One bad game. It was Game 1 of the championship. El Presidente couldn’t get his game going and rookies Patrimonio and Codinera were left to carry the show for the beleaguered Hotdogs. Purefoods President Rene Buhain accused Fernandez of fixing the game and ordered him benched for the rest of the series. Fernandez cried foul and took his act to court. Without their leader and playing coach, Purefoods lost the series to Anejo Rhum 1-3. They traded Fernandez to San Miguel Beer the following conference for Abet Guidaben who was then the early MVP leader. This was the second time both veterans were traded for each other. Both times, Guidaben would lose his chance of an MVP plum after leading the race. A visibly frustrated Guidaben played lacklusterly for Purefoods and they wound up last in the Third Conference. Fernandez took home the MVP award, his fourth and Guidaben, well, was a free agent at season end and signed up with Alaska Milk. Fernandez gave SMB a grand slam the following year falling just short of a fifth MVP. So for Fernandez, Purefoods asked for only a conference of Abet Guidaben. They should have asked for at least a first round pick. Benjie Paras turned pro a conference later after making that controversial trade.