Powerade Tigers
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Powerade Tigers

The Powerade Tigers were a professional basketball team that played in the Philippine Basketball Association from 2002 to 2012. The franchise was owned by Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) when the company acquired Cosmos Bottling Corporation from RFM Corporation. From 2002 to 2010, the team played as the Coca-Cola Tigers. The franchise won two PBA championships, in 2002 and 2003.

In 2001, RFM Corporation sold its subsidiary Cosmos Bottling Corporation, including its PBA franchise, to Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI), then a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC),

The newly acquired franchise debuted as the Coca-Cola Tigers beginning the 2002 PBA season.

In its maiden season, the Tigers failed to capture the first two conferences of the tournament (a third-place finish in the Governor's Cup and a disappointing quarterfinals finish in the Commissioner's Cup), the Tigers surged ahead in the All-Filipino Conference. Bannered by Rudy Hatfield and Jeffrey Cariaso after serving time with the national team, Coca-Cola defeated their then-sister team San Miguel in the semi-finals to enter their first finals appearance against the Alaska Aces.

After losing Johnny Abarrientos in Game One of the best-of-five series, the Tigers won the next three games to secure their first-ever PBA title. Ironically, the Tigers clinched the series on the first PBA game held on Christmas Day.

During their second season in the league, Coca-Cola failed to win the championship in the first two conferences. In the All-Filipino Conference, the Tigers blew a 2–0 lead in the best-of-seven series as their counterparts Talk 'N Text won the next four games to win the series. In the Invitational tournament, Alaska took revenge on the Tigers, winning the said tournament in three games.

But the Tigers succeeded in the Reinforced Conference. Bannered by former Mobiline import Artemus McClary, Coke won against San Miguel in seven grueling games to win their second PBA crown.

McClary was named Best Import of the tournament while Hatfield won the Best Player of the Conference award for the first time in his career.

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