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The Alaska–Magnolia rivalry is between the two of the oldest franchises in the Philippine Basketball Association, Alaska Aces and the Magnolia Hotshots. They are considered the most successful teams in PBA history, having 27 PBA championships combined, a league second-best 14 rings for the Aces and 13 titles for the Hotshots. This rivalry is one of the most played pairing two teams in the league's history, having been met for 226 times.

Championship meeting

In the 1990 PBA Third Conference, Purefoods Hotdogs and Alaska Air Force seeking for first PBA title. Alaska won Game 1 & 2 to get commanding 2–0 lead and a win away to their first PBA title but Purefoods won Game 3 & 4 to force a deciding Game 5.Eventually Purefoods won Game 5 overcame a 0–2 series deficit against Alaska, duplicating the feat achieved by the famed Crispa Redmanizers in 1976, as coach Baby Dalupan won his 15th championship.

In 1994, Purefoods and Alaska clash for the second time in the Commissioner's Cup Finals, now Purefoods with a young coach Chot Reyes with Franchise powerful tandem Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera against improved Alaska with Tim Cone and rising sophomore Johnny Abarrientos.Tender Juicy Hotdogs dominating the series with 3–0 lead but Milkmen won Game 4 to extend the series.Eventually Purefoods won Game 5 to get their 4th PBA title, it is now 2–0 for Purefoods in their finals duel.

The mid-1990s up to 2000 saw Alaska and Purefoods played in the finals three times with the Milkmen scoring their first finals win over the Hotdogs in the 1996 PBA All-Filipino Cup via 4–1 triumph. Their next two championship meeting, the Milkmen prove their superiority by winning anew in the same four games to one victory in the 1997 PBA Governors' Cup and 2000 PBA All-Filipino Cup, the series went the same route with Purefoods winning Game One and Alaska taking the next four to clinch the title.

In the 2002 PBA Governors' Cup, Alaska and Purefoods played for the sixth time in the championship. The now Alaska with the new monicker Aces seems headed to another easy victory by taking a 2–0 series lead. The Tender Juicy Hotdogs wake up and responded to the challenge by winning the next three and eventually won in seven games. It was Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc's last PBA championship, and together with Alaska's Jojo Lastimosa, the three who were once the league's young superstars and now members of the 25 PBA greatest players and they played in a fitting finale in Game Seven.

Then interim coach Ryan Gregorio won his first PBA title and eight years later in 2009–10 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, he would renew a finals meeting with Alaska coach Tim Cone. This time with an entirely different roster with the TJ Giants led by James Yap and Kerby Raymundo and Alaska with two-time MVP Willie Miller. Purefoods had an easier time scoring a 4–0 sweep, marking only the third time in PBA finals history that a four-game sweep took place.

Finals results

Imports match-up

Trivias

The PBA's well-known rivalry during the first decade, Crispa vs Toyota, still holds the record for most number of championship meeting of two teams with 10, followed by San Miguel vs Alaska with 9, while Purefoods vs Alaska and San Miguel vs Purefoods were tied with seven finals meeting.

The winningest PBA coach, Tim Cone, was Alaska's coach in all of their seven championship showdown with Purefoods. The Hotdogs on the other hand, had Chot Reyes and Ryan Gregorio pitted against Cone twice, with Gregorio being the only bench tactician to be 2-0 over Tim Cone in the finals. The other three Purefoods coaches were the Maestro Baby Dalupan, Eric Altamirano and Derrick Pumaren.

Both teams were involved in arguably the most successful trade ever in early 1991, Jojo Lastimosa and Boy Cabahug, the two players switch places and led their team to a championship that season. Frankie Lim, an original from Alaska since 1986, was the last player to left the franchise, and joined Purefoods in 1993.

Three players who started their career with Alaska, Eric Altamirano, Johnny Abarrientos and Jeffrey Cariaso, upon retirement, would become part of the Purefoods coaching staff.

See also

• Manila Clasico
• Alaska–San Miguel rivalry
• Magnolia–San Miguel rivalry
• Crispa–Toyota rivalry

External links

• PBA Official Website