The 2003 Samsung-PBA Reinforced Conference finals, for sponsorship reasons was the best-of-7 basketball championship series of the 2003 PBA Reinforced Conference and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The San Miguel Beermen and Coca Cola Tigers played for the 86th championship contested by the league.

After two runner-up finishes in the first two conferences, the Coca Cola Tigers won their 2nd PBA title with a 4–3 series victory over San Miguel Beermen.

Series scoring summary

TeamGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Wins
Coca Cola8110381878680924
San Miguel847986848485843

Games summary

Game 1

NBN/IBC
November 30
Coca Cola Tigers 81, San Miguel Beermen 84
Scoring by quarter: 20–25, 18–17, 22–27, 21–15
Pts: Artemus McClary 33Pts: Kwan Johnson 17 Danny Ildefonso 17
San Miguel leads series, 1–0
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The Beermen bucked the absence of Kwan Johnson and leaned on Danny Ildefonso down the stretch, Ildefonso scored 11 of his team's last 15 points and stole the ball from Coca Cola import Tee McClary with four seconds remaining as the Beermen escaped with a thrilling victory. SMB import Kwan Johnson spent the entire fourth period on the bench after hurting his left groin late in the third quarter. Rudy Hatfield and McClary joined forces in a 19–6 Tigers' run that cut the Beermen's 14-point lead to just one, 79–80, with barely a minute remaining.

Game 2

NBN/IBC
December 3
Coca Cola Tigers 103, San Miguel Beermen 79
Series tied, 1–1
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

With the score at 62–43 in Coca Cola's favor, Tigers' import Tee McClary planted an elbow on Beerman Danny Ildefonso's side during a deadball situation in the third quarter, prompting the latter to retaliate with a close-fist assault, both players were thrown out of the ballgame. McClary and Ildefonso were suspended in the following game of the finals series for figuring in a fight.

Game 3

NBN/IBC
December 5
Coca Cola Tigers 81, San Miguel Beermen 86
Scoring by quarter: 23–26, 11–19, 24–17, 23–24
Pts: Jeffrey Cariaso 26Pts: Dondon Hontiveros 22
San Miguel leads series, 2–1
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

Dondon Hontiveros stepped up in the absence of San Miguel import Kwan Johnson and Danny Ildefonso, the cebuano hotshot pumped in 13 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Beermen went through several deadlocks before putting the sting out of the importless Tigers. The Beermen brought in Cedric Ceballos, a last-minute replacement for the injured Johnson on a temporary basis, the NBA's 1992 slam dunk contest champion tossed in 11 points and hauled down 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.

Game 4

NBN/IBC
December 7
Coca Cola Tigers 87, San Miguel Beermen 84
Scoring by quarter: 21–24, 24–21, 28–17, 14–22
Pts: Artemus McClary 34Pts: Kwan Johnson 19 Danny Ildefonso 19
Series tied, 2–2
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The Tigers led, 73–62, entering the fourth quarter when Danny Ildefonso and Dorian Peña rallied the Beermen and gave them an 82–81 edge after a long scoreless spell by the Tigers, Rudy Hatfield nailed a triple with 49 seconds left that broke an 84-all deadlock and Hatfield, who scored 16 points with 16 rebounds, capped his heroics with a block on Dondon Hontiveros' potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer to preserved the Tigers' win.

Game 5

NBN/IBC
December 10
Coca Cola Tigers 86, San Miguel Beermen 84
Scoring by quarter: 21–17, 11–20, 31–25, 23–22
Pts: Artemus McClary 17Pts: Kwan Johnson 30
Coca Cola leads series, 3–2
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay

Rob Wainwright scored 11 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter and along with Jeffrey Cariaso, stole the thunder from import Tee McClary as they spearheaded the Tigers' offensive in the payoff period that opened an 85–79 spread for the Tigers with less than two minutes remaining. SMB import Kwan Johnson, who return from a groin injury, flubbed a go-ahead triple in the final 21 seconds and saw his drive at the buzzer rim out, allowing the Tigers to escaped with a two-point victory.

Game 6

NBN/IBC
December 12
Coca Cola Tigers 80, San Miguel Beermen 85
Series tied, 3–3
Philsports Arena, Pasig

Game 7

NBN/IBC
December 14
Coca Cola Tigers 92, San Miguel Beermen 84
Scoring by quarter: 21–27, 23–14, 21–18, 27–25
Pts: Artemus McClary 25Pts: Dorian Peña 23
Coca Cola wins series, 4–3
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

The Tigers were up, 65–59, entering the final quarter. Tee McClary scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth period and pounced on those eight turnovers by the Beermen as Coca Cola got their biggest lead of the game at 85–70 with 5:45 left, the Beermen countered with a 12–2 surge to trim the deficit to 82–87 with 1:39 remaining.

2003 PBA Reinforced Conference Champions
Coca Cola Tigers 2nd title

Rosters

Coca-Cola Tigers rostervte
PlayersCoaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From F 4 United States Rafi Reavis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Coppin State G 5 United States Rob Wainwright 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Solano CC G 8 Philippines Gec Chia 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ateneo C 9 Philippines Gilbert Lao 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) UST G 10 Philippines Ato Morano 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) San Beda G 14 Philippines Johnny Abarrientos 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Far Eastern F 16 Philippines Bong Hawkins 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) UPHSD G 18 Philippines Leo Avenido 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Far Eastern G 20 United States Artemus McClary(I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Jacksonville F 21 Philippines Reynel Hugnatan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Manila G 22 United States Jeffrey Cariaso 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State C 24 Philippines Cris Bolado 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) National-U F 25 Philippines Freddie Abuda 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cebu G 31 United States William Antonio 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Chaminade C 32 Philippines Poch Juinio 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines F 99 United States Rudy Hatfield 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UM–DearbornHead coach Philippines Chot Reyes Assistant(s) Philippines Nash Racela Philippines Biboy Ravanes Philippines Binky Favis Philippines Aboy Castro Philippines Mike Reyes Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(I) ImportInjured
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
F4United StatesRafi Reavis6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)Coppin State
G5United StatesRob Wainwright6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Solano CC
G8PhilippinesGec Chia6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)Ateneo
C9PhilippinesGilbert Lao6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)UST
G10PhilippinesAto Morano6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)San Beda
G14PhilippinesJohnny Abarrientos5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)Far Eastern
F16PhilippinesBong Hawkins6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)UPHSD
G18PhilippinesLeo Avenido6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)Far Eastern
G20United StatesArtemus McClary(I)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Jacksonville
F21PhilippinesReynel Hugnatan6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Manila
G22United StatesJeffrey Cariaso6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)Sonoma State
C24PhilippinesCris Bolado6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)National-U
F25PhilippinesFreddie Abuda6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)Cebu
G31United StatesWilliam Antonio6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)Chaminade
C32PhilippinesPoch Juinio6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Philippines
F99United StatesRudy Hatfield6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)UM–Dearborn
San Miguel Beermen rostervte
PlayersCoaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 1 Philippines Boybits Victoria 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) San Beda F 2 Philippines Bryan Gahol 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Philippines F 3 United States Nic Belasco 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Notre Dame (OH) C 4 United States Dorian Peña 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Coppin State G 6 Philippines Billy Moody 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Letran G 7 Philippines Dondon Hontiveros 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Cebu F/C 10 Philippines Danny Ildefonso 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) National-U F 11 Philippines Arnold Calo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) MLQU C 14 Philippines Benjie Paras 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines G 17 Philippines Olsen Racela 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Ateneo G 21 Philippines Joey Mente 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Lyceum F/C 22 Philippines Arnold Gamboa 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Far Eastern G 23 United States Kwan Johnson(I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) New Orleans F 24 United States Cedric Ceballos(I) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Cal State Fullerton F 29 Philippines Marlon Legaspi 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) MLQUHead coach Philippines Jong Uichico Assistant(s) Philippines Siot Tanquingcen Philippines Arturo Dela Cruz Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(I) ImportInjured
Pos.#POBNameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY–MM–DD)From
G1PhilippinesBoybits Victoria5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)San Beda
F2PhilippinesBryan Gahol6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)Philippines
F3United StatesNic Belasco6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)Notre Dame (OH)
C4United StatesDorian Peña6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)Coppin State
G6PhilippinesBilly Moody6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)Letran
G7PhilippinesDondon Hontiveros6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)Cebu
F/C10PhilippinesDanny Ildefonso6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)National-U
F11PhilippinesArnold Calo6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)MLQU
C14PhilippinesBenjie Paras6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)Philippines
G17PhilippinesOlsen Racela5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)Ateneo
G21PhilippinesJoey Mente5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)Lyceum
F/C22PhilippinesArnold Gamboa6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)Far Eastern
G23United StatesKwan Johnson(I)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)New Orleans
F24United StatesCedric Ceballos(I)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)Cal State Fullerton
F29PhilippinesMarlon Legaspi6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)MLQU

Broadcast notes

GamePlay-by-playAnalyst
Game 1Sev SarmentaNorman Black
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5Vitto LazatinNorman Black
Game 6Sev SarmentaQuinito Henson
Game 7Mico HaliliJayvee Gayoso

External links