Great Taste Coffee Makers
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| Great Taste Coffee Makers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joined | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | Great Taste Coffee Makers N-Rich Tivoli Ice Cream Presto 1975-1992 |
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| Team colors | Blue, white, yellow, orange and brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Company | Universal Robina Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaches | Tony Genato, Chino Marquinez, Nilo Verona, Baby Dalupan, Jimmy Mariano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championships | PBA All-Filipino Cup (1984, 1985, 1987, 1990), PBA Invitational (1984), PBA Open Conference (1985) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrew | 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Great Taste Coffee was one of the Pioneer teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The company was then known as the Consolidated Foods Corporation (CFC) and their chief products included well known brands like Presto Ice Cream, N-Rich Coffee Cream, Jack & Jill Fun Snacks, Great Taste Coffee among others.
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[edit] Profile and history
The company was perhaps one of the biggest food corporations back in the 70s and is still considered one of the biggest today with Universal Robina Corporation (URC) as well as in other diversified industries like Robinson's Land Corporation (RLC) (realty) and Sun Cellular (telecommunications). They were known for their different tag names; the Coffeemakers, the Coffee Creamers, the Discoverers, the Ice Cream Makers, the Tivolis, etc.
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. Notable players who donned the Presto/Great Taste jersey in the 70s included the Guzman brothers Noel and Joel, Manny Paner, Florendo Ritualo (the father of Ren-Ren), Danny Pribhdas (the father of Danilo, Jr of the UST Growling Tigers), Roy Deles, among others. Imports who shared the limelight with the Presto locals during the 70's included Dana Lewis, Niño Samuel, Jim Hearns, Daryl Smith, Jim Collins, Cisco Oliver (returned in 1978) and Lew Brown. Coaches included Tony Genato (Quinito Henson's father in law), Chino Marquinez (who also acted as team manager) and Nilo Verona.
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 who was pried away from the U-Tex Wranglers, Manny Victorino (then considered one of 3 elite centers in the league, alongside Ramon Fernandez and Abet Guidaben), Joel Banal, Jimmy Manansala, Joy Carpio, Rafael "Cho' Sison (the 1981 Rookie of the Year), and import Norman Black. Of course, the real sweetener was 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 Presto was already secured of a slot in the next round.
Now a powerful and potent squad, Great Taste became the toast of the PBA, dominating the mid-80s with a strong local lineup coupled by even more potent imports in the likes of Joe Binion, Jeff Collins, and Michael Young. The team even became stronger when the likes of Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Arnie Tuadles and Abe King joined the Coffee Makers. Add to this the blue chip rookie in the draft in the name of Allan Caidic and this became the team to beat. They were deemed as the second arrival of the disbanded Redmanizers at that time, with such a talent-laden squad to consider, plus a championship coach to boast of.
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 Vergel Meneses in 1992 and Bong Hawkins until they 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. It was Jun Limpot who eventually ended up to be the top pick of the said year.
[edit] Team roster
[edit] PBA 25 greatest players
- William Adornado
- Ricardo Brown
- Philip Cezar
- Atoy Co
- Allan Caidic
- Manny Paner
- Bernie Fabiosa
- Vergel Meneses
[edit] Other notable players
- Sonny Cabatu
- Noel Guzman
- Joel Guzman
- Florendo Ritualo
- Danny Pribhdas (father of Danilo, Jr. of the UST Growling Tigers)
- Roy Deles
- Jimmy Mariano
- Joel Banal
- Jimmy Manansala
- Joy Carpio
- Rafael "Cho' Sison
- Manny Victorino
- Abe King
- Arnie Tuadles
- Gerry Esplana
- Apet Jao
- Bong Hawkins
- Jose "Jing" Aldanese
- Manuel "Noli" Aldanese
- Bai Cristobal
- Joy Carpio
- Frankie Lim
- Chito Loyzaga
- Redentor Vicente (father of Redentor, Jr. of the San Sebastian Stags)
- Woodrow Balani
- Willie Generalao
- Padim Israel
- Totoy Marquez
- Zaldy Realubit
- Nani Demegillo
- Onchie dela Cruz
- Teddy Alfarero
- Pongky Alolor
- bambi kabigting
- pops manoag
- Aris Franco
- Rolando Buhay
- Tano Salazar
- Tim Coloso
[edit] Imports
- Norman Black
- Joe Binion
- Dana Lewis
- Niño Samuel
- Michael David Holton
- Jim Hearns
- Walker Russell
- Daryl Smith
- Jeff Collins
- Cisco Oliver
- Lew Brown
- Daryl Smith
- Dawann Scott
- Terrance Bailey
- Ennis Whatley
- Winston "Human Eraser" Crite
- Michael Young
- Tony White
- Lew Jackson
[edit] Team managers
- Ignacio Gotao
- Chino Marquinez
[edit] External links
| Preceded by {start) |
PBA teams genealogies 1975-92 |
Succeeded by Sta. Lucia Realtors |
