1997 San Miguel Beermen season

Former national team coach Ron Jacobs is the new coach of San Miguel Beermen following Norman Black's resignation and transfer to the Mobiline franchise. On February 21, Ron Jacobs ushered his comeback in local basketball in the Beermen's 70-66 victory over Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys, which also had a new head coach Eric Altamirano in both teams' first game of the season. [1] The Beermen had to win their last two games in the eliminations to enter the All-Filipino Cup semifinal round with seven wins and seven losses. They won four of their eight semifinal assignments and places fourth by losing to Sta.Lucia in their one-game battle for third place.

Import Jeff Ward led the Beermen to the finals playoff match against Gordon's Gin Boars with the Alaska Milkmen clinching the first finals seat in the Commissioner's Cup. Ward played his heart out and battled cramps in San Miguel's 100-106 double-overtime loss to Gordon's Gin in their knockout game on August 24. The Beermen managed to finish third in the conference by winning over Sta.Lucia without Jeff Ward and playing with only seven men.

The Beermen signed up former Houston Rocket Larry Robinson as their import in the Governor's Cup. Robinson debut with 33 points in San Miguel's 76-68 win over defending champion Alaska Milkmen. [2] The Beermen advances into the best-of-five semifinals outright by topping the eliminations with nine wins and five losses and were tied with Alaska and Sta.Lucia. They played the Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies in the semifinal series and led two games to one, the Beefies came back with victories in Games four and five to frustrate San Miguel's bid for a finals berth for the second straight time in the season.

• Jeff Ward was voted the Commissioner's Cup Best Import.
• Larry Robinson was voted the Governor's Cup Best Import.