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Basketball team

Great Taste Coffee Makers

Founded| 1975
Dissolved| Sold in 1993
History| Presto Ice Cream (1975, 1977, 1988-1989, 1992)
N-Rich Coffee Creamers (1976, 1982)
Presto Fun Drinks (1980-1981)
Great Taste Discoverers (1978-1980, 1983)
Great Taste Coffee Makers (1982, 1983-1987)
Great Taste Instant Milk (1987-1988)
Presto Tivolis (1989-1991)
Tivoli Milk Masters (1991)
Team colors| Great Taste Coffee

Great Taste Milk

Presto Fun Drinks

Presto Ice Cream

Presto Tivoli

Main sponsor| CFC Corporation (now merged with Universal Robina Corporation)
Head coach| Tony Genato
Nilo Verona
Alfonso Marquez
Baby Dalupan
Jimmy Mariano
Tommy Manotoc
Ownership| John Gokongwei
Championships| 6 championships

1984 Second All-Filipino
1984 Invitational
1985 Open
1985 All-Filipino
1987 All-Filipino
1990 All-Filipino

10 Finals Appearances

Dark uniform

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, the 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[edit]

### Early years (1975-1978)[edit]

While Great Taste was known to be a blockbuster and powerhouse team to those who got to watch the game in the early 1980s, this team was also one of the ragtag and also-ran teams of the 1970s. Not exactly blessed with the biggest names among the present set of players then, they did become competitive owing more on the sheer hearts of their players rather than talents. Having started in the MICAA under coach Narciso Bernardo in 1973, notable players who donned the Presto/Great Taste jersey in the 70s 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 acted as team manager) and Nilo Verona.

### Breakthrough (1979-1982)[edit]

In the second conference of 1979, the ballclub finally cracked into the final four behind imports Jim Hearns and Darryl Smith, the following year with the acquisition of Jun Papa and Estoy Estrada, the team made it anew in the semifinals of the Open Conference. In the mid-season of 1981, they signed center-forwards Manny Victorino and Joel Banal, that same year, the team had their first player to win an award in Rafael "Cho' Sison, voted the 1981 Rookie of the Year. The final conference of both 1981 and 1982 season had the ballclub figured in a playoff for a finals berth but fell short each time.

### The Ricardo Brown era (1983-1987)[edit]

The real big turnaround started when they were able to secure the services of then Filipino-American rookie Ricardo Brown. It is said that Brown was practically stolen by Great Taste team manager Ignacio Gotao from Crispa owner Danny Floro, who has already formalized a commitment from the "Quick Brown Fox" to play for the Redmanizers. But as fate would have it, Brown was secured for the Coffeemakers, along with Bogs Adornado from the disbanded U-Tex Wranglers, and with Manny Victorino (then considered one of 3 elite centers in the league, alongside Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben), Joel Banal, Alejo Alolor, Joy Carpio, and import Norman Black. Great Taste finally enter into the championship picture, losing to the Billy Ray Bates-led Crispa in the second conference finals. The real sweetener happen in the third conference with the entry of Coach Baby Dalupan for the team - first as team consultant behind his godson Jimmy Mariano, only to secure the top coaching job when Mariano was "fired" for his ill-advised statement "we didn't intend to win.” This was said after a shocking loss to lowly Galerie Dominique since Great Taste was already secured of a slot in the next round.

Now a powerful and potent squad, Great Taste became the toast of the PBA in the following year, acquiring players such as Arnie Tuadles, Frankie Lim and Chito Loyzaga and in 1985, signing Abe King and Willie Pearson. The Coffeemakers dominated the mid-1980s, winning four straight championships between 1984 and 1985, with a strong local lineup and a more potent imports in the likes of Joe Binion and Jeff Collins.

### The Allan Caidic era (1987-1992)[edit]

After a crownless season in 1986, the team decided to trade two of its key players; Manny Victorino and Jimmy Manansala to Shell for Philip Cezar and Bernie Fabiosa, and with Atoy Co joining the team following the disbandment of the Manila Beer franchise, the three former Crispa players had a reunion of sorts with Great Taste with their coach Baby Dalupan. [1]

Add to this the blue chip rookie in the draft in the name of Allan Caidic and they became the team to beat. Great Taste regains the All-Filipino crown that year and won their fifth championship. The following season, their franchise player Ricardo Brown left the team and signed with San Miguel Beer.

Presto won its final championship in 1990 featuring the superstar 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). More blue chip players came their way including Bong Hawkins in 1991 and Vergel Meneses in 1992 until the team eventually disbanded at the end of the 1992 season with Sta. Lucia buying the franchise rights including its rights for the first pick of the 1993 draft.

## Season-by-season records[edit]

Legend

Champion

* * *

Runner-up

* * *

Third place
Season | Conference | Team name | Overall record | Finals

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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 2
Open Conference | Crispa 3, Great Taste 0
1984 | First All-Filipino Conference | 39 | 14 | .736 |
Second All-Filipino Conference | Great Taste 3, Beer Hausen 0
Invitational Conference | Great Taste 3, Crispa 2
1985 | Open Conference | 44 | 27 | .620 | Great Taste 4, Magnolia 2
All-Filipino Conference | Great Taste 3, Shell 1
Reinforced Conference |
1986 | Reinforced Conference | 36 | 28 | .563 | Tanduay 4, Great Taste 2
All-Filipino Conference |
Open Conference |
1987 | Open Conference | 35 | 25 | .583 | Tanduay 4, Great Taste 1
All-Filipino Conference | Great Taste 3, Hills Bros. 0
Reinforced Conference |
1988 | Open Conference | 26 | 34 | .433 |
All-Filipino Conference | Presto Ice Cream Makers
Third 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 3
Third 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[edit]

### Individual awards[edit]

PBA Most Valuable Player  | PBA Rookie of the Year Award  | PBA All-Defensive Team

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* 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[edit]

All Star MVP  | Obstacle Challenge  | Three-point Shootout  | Slam Dunk Contest

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* Allan Caidic \- 1992

* Vergel Meneses \- 1992

## Notable players[edit]

### PBA Greatest players[edit]

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[edit]

* 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

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### Imports[edit]

* 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)

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## Coaches[edit]

* Tony Genato
* Nilo Verona
* Alfonso Marquez
* Baby Dalupan
* Jimmy Mariano
* Tommy Manotoc

## Team managers[edit]

* Ignacio Gotao
* Chino Marquinez

## References[edit]

1. ^ "PBA preview '87: Great Taste". Manila Standard.

## External links[edit]

* The Quick Brown Fox's Untold Stories@GMA News Online

Preceded by

(start)

|  PBA teams genealogies
1975-1992  | Succeeded by

Sta. Lucia Realtors

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|

* v
* t
* e

Defunct Philippine Basketball Association teams

* 7-Up Uncolas
* Air21 Express1
* Alaska Aces2
* Barako Bull Energy3
* Barako Bull Energy Boosters4
* Carrier Weathermakers
* Country Fair Hotdogs
* Crispa Redmanizers
* Filmanbank
* Galleon Shippers
* Great Taste Coffee Makers
* Manila Beer Brewmasters
* Mariwasa - Galerie Dominique
* Pop Cola Panthers
* Powerade Tigers
* Shell Turbo Chargers
* Sta. Lucia Realtors
* Tanduay Rhum Masters
* Tefilin Polyesters
* Toyota Super Corollas
* U/Tex Wranglers

* 1 Known as Shopinas.com from 2011 to 2012
* 2 Known as Hills Bros. in 1987
* 3 Known as FedEx / Air21 from 2002 to 2011
* 4 Known as Red Bull from 2000 to 2009

PBA Finals Champions Navigation Boxes

* v
* t
* e

Great Taste Coffee Makers 1984 PBA Second All-Filipino Conference Champions

* 1 Manny Victorino
* 2 Alejo Alolor
* 4 Frankie Lim
* 7 Joel Banal
* 11 Jaime Manansala
* 14 Chito Loyzaga
* 19 Woodrow Balani
* 22 Arnie Tuadles
* 23 Ricardo Brown
* 29 Bernardo Carpio
* 33 Bogs Adornado
* 45 Redentor Vicente
* Coach Baby Dalupan

* v
* t
* e

Great Taste Coffee Makers 1984 PBA Invitational Conference Champions

* 1 Manny Victorino
* 2 Alejo Alolor
* 4 Frankie Lim
* 7 Joel Banal
* 11 Jaime Manansala
* 14 Chito Loyzaga
* 19 Woodrow Balani
* 22 Arnie Tuadles
* 23 Ricardo Brown
* 24 Jeff Collins (import)
* 29 Bernardo Carpio
* 33 Bogs Adornado
* 45 Redentor Vicente
* Coach Baby Dalupan

* v
* t
* e

Great Taste Coffee Makers 1985 PBA Open Conference Champions

* 1 Manny Victorino
* 2 Pongkee Alolor
* 3 Oliver Dalman
* 6 Abe King
* 7 Joel Banal
* 11 Jaime Manansala
* 14 Chito Loyzaga
* 18 Lawrence Merced
* 20 Teddy Alfarero
* 23 Ricardo Brown
* 29 Bernardo Carpio
* 30 Joe Binion (import)
* 33 Willie Pearson
* Coach Baby Dalupan

* v
* t
* e

Great Taste Coffee Makers 1985 PBA All-Filipino Conference Champions

* 1 Manny Victorino
* 2 Alejo Alolor
* 3 Oliver Dalman
* 4 Frankie Lim
* 5 Abe King
* 7 Joel Banal
* 11 Jaime Manansala
* 14 Chito Loyzaga
* 18 Lawrence Merced
* 20 Teddy Alfarero
* 23 Ricardo Brown
* 29 Bernardo Carpio
* 33 Willie Pearson
* Coach Baby Dalupan

* v
* t
* e

Great Taste Coffee Makers 1987 PBA All-Filipino Conference Champions

* 5 Aaron Torres
* 6 Abe King
* 8 Allan Caidic
* 11 Arnie Tuadles
* 13 Rey Ramos
* 14 Noli Banate
* 15 Bernie Fabiosa
* 16 Ranulfo Robles
* 18 Philip Cezar
* 23 Ricardo Brown
* 24 Aldo Perez
* 29 Bernardo Carpio
* 60 Atoy Co
* Coach Baby Dalupan

* v
* t
* e

Presto Tivolis 1990 PBA All-Filipino Conference Champions

* 1 Manny Victorino
* 5 Peter Jao
* 6 Abe King
* 8 Allan Caidic
* 9 Onchie Dela Cruz
* 11 Arnie Tuadles
* 14 Gerald Esplana
* 15 Hernani Demigillo
* 17 Padim Israel
* 28 Zaldy Realubit
* 29 Joy Carpio
* 42 Willie Generalao
* 71 Manuel Marquez
* Coach Jimmy Mariano

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