1996-97 POBA season

The 1996–97 POBA season was the 1st season of the Pacific Ocean Basketball Association (POBA). The regular season began on September 24, 1996, and the playoffs began on January 7, 1997.
==Expansion Teams==
After the folding of the Toronto Thunder, four expansion teams were added to the league; namely:
*London Lancers
*Atlanta Aces
*New Community Patriots
*Hellhill Heat
==Regular Season==
===Standings===
Pos	Team 	W	L 	PCT 	GB	1	Sting Rays (Q)	11	1	1.00	—
2 	Chicago Giants (Q) 	9	3 	.875	2 	 	 	 	 	 	
3 	Atlanta Aces (Q) 	9	3 	.625	2 	 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Harlem Globetrotters (Q)	8	4 	.500	3 	 	 	 	 	 	
5 	New Kelp Warriors 	8	4 	.375	3 	 	 	 	 	 	
6 	Toon Tomahawks 	6	6 	.375	5 	 	 	 	 	 	
7 	Rock Bottom Racketeers 	4	8 	.250	7 	 	 	 	 	 	
8 	Cebu Elites 	3	9 	.125	8 	 	 	 	 	 	
9 	London Lancers 	1	11	.375	10	 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Bikini Bottom Bulldogs 	1	11	.375	10	 	 	 	 	 	
11 	New Community Patriots 	1	11	.250	10	 	 	 	 	 	
12 	Hellhill Heat 	0	12	.125	11	 	 	 	 	 	
(Q) – qualified for playoffs
==Playoffs==
The playoffs this season used a single elimination format.
===Quarterfinals===
*(1) Sting Rays def. (4) Harlem Globetrotters (78–62)
*(3) Atlanta Aces def. (2) Chicago Giants (81–80)
==Finals==
*Game 1: Sting Rays def. Atlanta Aces (77–70)
*Game 2: Atlanta Aces def. Sting Rays (65–62)
*Game 3: Atlanta Aces def. Sting Rays (71–68)
*Game 4: Sting Rays def. Atlanta Aces (79–74)
*Game 5: Atlanta Aces def. Sting Rays (82–75)
*Game 6: Atlanta Aces def. Sting Rays (74–72)
*Atlanta Aces win series 4–2
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