1985 Shell Azodrin Bugbusters season

The 1985 Shell Azodrin Bugbusters season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

New team

Pilipinas Shell Corporation acquired the franchise of the famed Crispa Redmanizers, the winningest ballclub which disbanded as the league entered its 11th season, known as Shell Chemicals or Shell Azodrin, the Bugbusters played in the PBA finals in only their second participated tournament during the All-Filipino Conference.

Off-season transactions

Acquired Philip Cezar, Bernie Fabiosa and Arturo Cristobal from the disbanded Crispa, three-time MVP Bogs Adornado from Great Taste, Abet Gutierrez from Beer Hausen, Rey Lazaro and Dennis Abbatuan from Tanduay.

Signed up 6-5 center Sonny Cabatu, two-time PABL Most Valuable Player awardee, who was the league's number 1 overall pick in the first-ever PBA rookie draft, Shell also acquired five more amateur standouts namely; Leo Austria, Romeo Ang, Manuel Luis Marquez, Aldo Perez and Menardo Jubinal.

Awards

• Bogs Adornado made it to the Mythical Five selection, finished second to eventual MVP winner Ricardo Brown of Great Taste in the race for the Most Valuable Player trophy.
• Leo Austria won the season's Rookie of the year honors.

Summary

Shell signed Kevin Graham as their import for the Open Conference, after just two games, Graham was replaced by the returning Rich Adams, who last played in the PBA two years ago, the Bugbusters lost their first three games in the season before scoring its first franchise win, a 106-94 victory over Great Taste on March 14. Shell won three of their next four outings for an even 4-4 won-loss slate but lost their last four games in the eliminations and didn't win a single match in the quarterfinals to bow out with a seven-game losing streak.

In the All-Filipino Conference, Shell were tied with Ginebra and Tanduay after 10 games in the eliminations with five wins and five loss each, the Bugbusters lost their first two games in the semifinals, then won the next three before being forced into a knockout game by Ginebra San Miguel. On August 11, Shell outscored Ginebra in the final period to pulled away with an 89-76 victory in a playoff for the right to play the Great Taste Coffee Makers in the All-Filipino Conference finals. The Bugbusters lost in four games in the championship series against the defending champions.

Shell started out again with three straight defeats in the Reinforced Conference before picking up its first win against Northern, 106-104 on September 19, as Bogs Adornado and import Howard "Hi-C" Carter each scored 41 and 40 points respectively for a combined 81-point output, Carter was replaced by Lester Rowe after Shell just scored its first victory, the Bugbusters dropped their next six matches. On October 15, Shell kept its chances to gain a tie for the last quarterfinals berth by surprising Magnolia Quench Plus, 123-109, for only their second win in 11 games with Rowe scoring 41 points and Bogs Adornado added 37 points. Tanduay ended Shell's hopes by beating Ginebra two nights later to enter the quarterfinal round.

Roster

_{Team Manager: Ernie Inocencio}

References