When Purefoods center Ramon Fernandez was benched in game two of the All-Filipino Conference finals and subsequently banished for the rest of the series, San Miguel began to ponder the possibilities.
On September 15, San Miguel Beer representative Jose "Nono" Ibazeta reportedly called Purefoods chairman and president Rene Buhain on a possible swap between Ramon Fernandez and their center, two-time MVP Abet Guidaben; the next morning, a deal was sealed sending Guidaben to the Purefoods Hotdogs and a homecoming for Ramon Fernandez, who first played with San Miguel in the early 1970s, the trade between the two league pioneers was a repeat of a similar swapped that took place in 1985.
San Miguel had an easier time winning the championship in the season-ending conference, defeating Shell Rimula-X, led by imports Bobby Parks and Derrick Rowland, 4 games to 1, to retain the title they won last season.
March 20: San Miguel Beer spoiled the debut of newcomer Purefoods Hotdogs in the main game of the league's 14th season opening, leading by as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter and coast to an easy 119-104 victory.
[3] July 26: Abet Guidaben topscored with 30 points and scored on a marginal basket from 20 feet after he fumbled the ball with five seconds left to give the beermen a 104-103 win over Añejo Rum, that ended their five-game losing misery against their sister team.