The Great Taste Coffee Makers were a basketball team that played in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) from 1975 to 1992. It was one of the founding members of the PBA, Asia's first and oldest professional league. The franchise was owned by CFC Corporation (now merged with Universal Robina Corporation) and named after its brand of instant coffee, Great Taste Coffee. The franchise also played under other CFC brands such as N-Rich, Presto and Tivoli.
The franchise won six PBA championships, mostly under coach Baby Dalupan.
In 1993, CFC sold its PBA franchise to Sta. Lucia Realty & Development, Inc., which absorbed several Presto players.
History
Early years (1975–1978)
Great Taste became a dominant team in the early 1980s. Started in the MICAA under coach Narciso Bernardo in 1973, notable players who wore the Presto/Great Taste jersey in the 1970s included the Aldanese brothers Noli and Jing (who replaced Fely Fajardo as coach in the second conference of 1976), Manny Paner, Florendo Ritualo (the father of Ren-Ren), Danny Pribhdas (the father of Danilo, Jr of the UST Growling Tigers), and Johnny Revilla. Coaches included Tony Genato (Quinito Henson's father-in-law), Chino Marquinez (who also served as team manager), and Nilo Verona.
Breakthrough (1979–1982)
In the second conference of 1979, the team reached the final four behind imports Jim Hearns and Darryl Smith. The following year, with the acquisition of Jun Papa and Estoy Estrada, the team again reached the semifinals of the Open Conference. In mid-season 1981, they signed center-forwards Manny Victorino and Joel Banal. That same year, the team had its first individual award winner in Rafael "Cho" Sison, voted the 1981 Rookie of the Year. In the final conference of both the 1981 and 1982 seasons, the team reached a playoff for a finals berth but fell short each time.
The Ricardo Brown era (1983–1987)
The team signed Filipino-American rookie Ricardo Brown in 1983, following negotiations involving Great Taste manager Ignacio Gotao and Crispa owner Danny Floro. Brown joined the Coffeemakers alongside Bogs Adornado from the disbanded U-Tex Wranglers, Manny Victorino, Joel Banal, Alejo Alolor, Joy Carpio, and import Norman Black. Great Taste reached the finals of the second conference that season, losing to the Billy Ray Bates-led Crispa.
Prior to the third conference, Coach Baby Dalupan joined the team, initially as a team consultant under Jimmy Mariano. Dalupan subsequently took over as head coach after Mariano was dismissed following a public comment, "we didn't intend to win," made after a loss to Galerie Dominique.
The team improved significantly the following year, acquiring players such as Arnie Tuadles, Frankie Lim, and Chito Loyzaga, and in 1985, signing Abe King and Willie Pearson. Great Taste won four straight championships between 1984 and 1985, combining a strong local lineup with imports Joe Binion and Jeff Collins.
The Allan Caidic era (1987–1992)
After failing to win a championship in 1986, the team traded two of its key players, Manny Victorino and Jimmy Manansala, to Shell for Philip Cezar and Bernie Fabiosa. With Atoy Co joining the team following the disbandment of the Manila Beer franchise, the three former Crispa players were reunited at Great Taste under their former coach, Baby Dalupan.
The team also drafted rookie Allan Caidic, and became one of the league's strongest teams that year. Great Taste regained the All-Filipino crown and won their fifth championship. The following season, franchise player Ricardo Brown left the team and signed with San Miguel Beer.
Presto won its final championship in 1990, featuring veteran Allan Caidic (named Most Valuable Player of the Year) and rookies Gerald Esplana (named Rookie of the Year) and Apet Jao (the top draft pick). The team added players including Bong Hawkins in 1991 and Vergel Meneses in 1992, before disbanding at the end of the 1992 season, when Sta. Lucia bought the franchise rights, including the rights to the first pick of the 1993 draft.
Season-by-season records Legend Champion Runner-up Third place Season Conference Team name Overall record Finals W L % 1975 First Conference Presto Ice Cream Makers 6 18 .250 Second Conference All-Philippine 1976 First Conference N-Rich 3 29 .094 Second Conference All-Philippine 1977 All-Filipino Conference Presto Ice Cream Makers 15 30 .333 Open Conference Invitational Conference 1978 All-Filipino Conference Great Taste Coffee Makers 5 23 .179 Open Conference Invitational Conference 1979 All-Filipino Conference 21 26 .447 Open Conference Invitational Conference 1980 Open Conference 14 25 .359 Invitational Conference All-Filipino Conference 1981 Open Conference Presto Ice Cream Makers 17 26 .395 Reinforced Filipino 1982 Reinforced Filipino Great Taste Coffee Makers 19 27 .413 Invitational Conference Open Conference N-Rich 1983 All-Filipino Conference Great Taste Coffee Makers 38 25 .603 Reinforced Filipino Crispa 3, Great Taste 2Open Conference Crispa 3, Great Taste 0 1984 First All-Filipino Conference 39 14 .736 Second All-Filipino Conference Great Taste 3, Beer Hausen 0Invitational Conference Great Taste 3, Crispa 2 1985 Open Conference 44 27 .620 Great Taste 4, Magnolia 2All-Filipino Conference Great Taste 3, Shell 1Reinforced Conference 1986 Reinforced Conference 36 28 .563 Tanduay 4, Great Taste 2All-Filipino Conference Open Conference 1987 Open Conference 35 25 .583 Tanduay 4, Great Taste 1All-Filipino Conference Great Taste 3, Hills Bros. 0Reinforced Conference 1988 Open Conference 26 34 .433 All-Filipino Conference Presto Ice Cream MakersThird Conference 1989 Open Conference 18 32 .360 All-Filipino Conference Reinforced Conference 1990 First Conference 40 29 .580 All-Filipino Conference Presto Tivolis Presto 4, Purefoods 3Third Conference 1991 First Conference Presto Tivoli 21 29 .420 All-Filipino Conference Third Conference 1992 First Conference Presto Ice Cream Kings 11 29 .275 All-Filipino Conference Third Conference Overall record 408 476 .462 6 championships Awards
Individual awards PBA Most Valuable Player PBA Rookie of the Year Award PBA All-Defensive Team Ricardo Brown – 1985 Allan Caidic – 1990 Raphael Sison – 1981 Ricardo Brown – 1983 Allan Caidic – 1987 Gerry Esplana – 1990 Abe King – 1985 Philip Cezar – 1987–1988 PBA Mythical First Team PBA Mythical Second Team PBA Most Improved Player Ricardo Brown – 1983–1986 Bogs Adornado – 1983 Manny Victorino – 1984–1986 Willie Pearson – 1985 Philip Cezar – 1987 Allan Caidic – 1987–1991 Bogs Adornado – 1984 Abe King – 1985 Ricardo Brown – 1987 Arnie Tuadles – 1987 Bernardo Carpio – 1987 Manny Victorino – 1984 PBA Best Import PBA Scoring Leader Jeff Collins – 1984 Invitational Ricardo Brown – 1985–1987 Allan Caidic – 1988–1991
All-Star Weekend All Star MVP Obstacle Challenge Three-point Shootout Slam Dunk Contest Allan Caidic – 1992 Vergel Meneses – 1992
Notable players
PBA Greatest players In alphabetical order. Members of PBA Hall of Fame are in boldface. William "Bogs" Adornado #33 Ricardo Brown #23 – "The Quick Brown Fox" named 1985 PBA Most Valuable Player Allan Caidic #8 – "The Triggerman" named 1987 PBA Rookie of the Year & 1990 PBA Most Valuable Player Philip Cezar #18 – "The Scholar" Atoy Co #60 and #6 – "The Fortune Cookie" played his final years in the league with the team. Bernie Fabiosa #15 – "The Sultan of Swipe" Vergel Meneses #4 – "The Aerial Voyager" was the #1 draft pick of the 1992 draft. Manny Paner #5 & #13 – Became the highest paid Filipino player in 1977, signed a 4-year contract called for P 8,000 a month.
Other notable players
Jose "Jing" Aldanese #4 Manuel "Noli" Aldanese #11 Teodocio "Teddy" Alfarero #20+ Alejo "Pongkee" Alolor #2 Leonardo "Leo" Aranzaso #9 Cesar "Kia" Arpilleda #17 Woodrow Balani #19 Joel Banal #26, #6, #7 & #28 Danilo "Danny" Basilan #14 Santiago "Sonny" Cabatu #5 Bernardo "Joy" Carpio #29 – "The Scavenger" Israel "Ric" Catacutan #15 Jacinto" Bong" Chua #8 & #9+ Aurelio "Boy" Clarino #56 Fortunato "Atoy" Co Jr. #6 #60 – "The Fortune Cookie" Arturo "Bai" Cristobal #7 Carlito "Lito" Cruz #12 Oliveros "Nonoy" Dalman #3 Ramon "Onchie" Dela Cruz #9 Danilo "Danny" De Guzman #10 Valeriano "Botchok" Delos Santos #10+ Hernani "Nani Demegillo #15 Jaime "Jimmy" Dungca #6 Gerald "Gerry" Esplana #14 – 1990 PBA Rookie of the Year – "Mr. Cool" Ernesto "Estoy" Estrada+ #6 & #44 Reynaldo "Rey" Franco #20 Wilfredo "Willy" Generalao #42 – "The General" Filomeno "Fil" Gulfin #8 Noel Guzman #8 Rene "Bong" Hawkins Jr. #16 – "The Hawk" Arthur "Art" Herrera #8 Federico "Padim" Israel #17 Peter "Apet" Jao #5 – #1 draft pick of 1990 PBA Draft – “The Howitser" Alfredo "Pido" Jarencio #25 – "The Fireman" Woodrow "Totoy" Jaymalin #5 Alfonso "Al" Jovero #12 Abraham "Abe" King #6 #66 – "The Chairman of the Board" Francisco "Frankie" Lim #22 Joaquin "Chito" Loyzaga #41 – "The Dynamite" Jaime "Jimmy" Manansala #11 Joselito "Joey" Marquez #66 Manuel "Totoy" Marquez #71 Eduardo "Eddieboy" Mendoza #10 Lawrence "Tata" Merced #18 Jose Cadel Mosqueda #12 Ruben "Benjie" Pablo #6 Adriano "Jun" Papa, Jr. #55+ Leonardo "Leo" Paguntalan #16 Willie Pearson #33 Danilo "Danny" Pribhdas, Jr+(father of Danilo, Jr. of the UST Growling Tigers) #13 Zaldy Realubit #28 Johnny Revilla #16+ Florendo "Dante" Ritualo #20 / #11+ Ranulfo "Noni" Robles #16 Ricafort "Ric" Roces #15 Jose "Joe" Roslin #19 & #14 Rafael "Cho" Sison #12 Loreto" Ato"Tolentino #7 Tomasito "Sito" Tolentino #5 Oscar "Oca" Tuazon #19 Arnulfo "Arnie Tuadles" #11 & #22+ Redentor "Red" Vicente, Sr. #45 Manny Victorino #1
Imports
Rich Adams #32 (1982) George Almones #32 (1988) Terrance Bailey #21 (1989 & 1991) Joe Binion #30 (1985) Norman Black #24 (1983) Cory Blackwell #30 (1985) Michael Britt #21 (1985) Johnny Brown #3 (1986) Lewis "Lew" Brown #24 (1980) Derwin "Tank" Collins #3 (1992) James Collins #13 (1978) Jeff Collins #24 (1984) Winston Crite #31 (1990) Perry Davis #30 (1982) Kenny Fields #54 (1988) Alvin Franklin #20 (1986) Jerome Harmon #32 (1992) Jim Hearns #33 (1979 & 1980) Michael Holton #14 (1986) Lewis Jackson #24 (1986) Harold Johnson #33 (1981) Napoleon Johnson #00 (1985) Greg Jones #3 (1986) Darryl "Choo" Kennedy #30 (1987) Dana Lewis #3 (1977)
Lew Massey #23 (1981) Dwayne McClain #44 (1991) Dwight Moody #(1987 PBA/IBA series) Cisco Oliver #6 (1978) Myles Patrick #32 (1981) Wally Rank #21 (1985) Eldridge Recasner #7 (1992) Angelo Robinson #34 (1984) Walker Russell #3 (1989) Danny Salisbery #31 (1982) Niño Samuel #44 (1977) Dawan Scott #7 (1983) Dexter Shouse (1987 PBA/IBA series) Darryl Smith #68 (1979) Everette Stephens #21 (1990) Earl Tatum #42 (1981) Jeff Taylor #44 (1987) Charles Thompson #18 (1983) Eric Turner #12 (1986) Tony White #4 (1988) Mike Wilson #2 (1986) Ennis Whatley Joey Wright #5 (1992) Michael Young #42 (1987)
Coaches Felicisimo Fajardo Tony Genato Nilo Verona Alfonso Marquez Baby Dalupan Jimmy Mariano Tommy Manotoc
Team managers Ignacio Gotao Chino Marquinez
References
External links The Quick Brown Fox's Untold Stories@GMA News Online