1986 Great Taste Coffee Makers season

1986 Great Taste Coffee Makers season
Head coach	Baby Dalupan
Owner(s)	CFC Corporation
Reinforced Conference results Record 14–10 (.583) Place 2nd Playoff finish Finals All Filipino Conference results Record 9–7 (.563) Place 4th Playoff finish Semifinals Open Conference results Record 13–11 (.542) Place 3rd Playoff finish Semifinals Great Taste Coffee Makers seasons 1985 1987

The 1986 Great Taste Coffee Makers season was the 12th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Transactions

TRANSACTIONS
Steve Watson ^Acquired via trade that sent Chito Loyzaga to Ginebra
Fritz Gaston ^Acquired from Manila Beer
Gerry Samlani ^Acquired from defunct Magnolia
Federico Lauchengco ^Signed in the All-Filipino
Aaron Torres ^Rookie signed
Leopoldo Herrera ^Signed in the All-Filipino
Rafael Sison ^Comebacking player signed
Renato Kabigting ^Signed midway in the All-Filipino, replace Gaston, who retired after 8 seasons

Summary

The Great Taste Coffee Makers, which failed to win the Grandslam last season, had the pair of Jeff Collins, a former best import awardee who led the CFC ballclub to a title back in 1984, and Mike Wilson as their imports for the first conference. Great Taste won their opening game against Manila Beer, 90-86 on April 6. The Coffee Makers were tied with Alaska and Tanduay in the first round of eliminations. Jeff Collins' partner Mike Wilson played five games and was replaced by Gregory Jones, starting the second round of eliminations. Jones played three games and was replaced by Michael Holton. ^[1] Great Taste pulled away and as expected, emerged as the best team in the elimination round with an 8-2 won-loss card. The Coffee Makers return to the finals against Tanduay Rhum Makers, which had a pair of Rob Williams and Andre McKoy as their imports. Great Taste was the odds-on favorite to win the title due to their championship experience, but the Rhum Makers were determined to end a long-drought and gave their franchise its first PBA title. Great Taste lost to Tanduay in six games in the Best-of-seven title series.

As defending champions in the All-Filipino Conference, Great Taste won their first two matches against Alaska and Manila Beer ^[2] before losing to Tanduay, 95-103, on July 20 in Iloilo City. The Coffee Makers and the Rhum Makers advances in the semifinals outright with similar 5-win, 1-loss slates. In the semifinal round, Great Taste, Tanduay and Ginebra were locked in a three-way battle for the finals berth with three wins and two losses each going into the last playing date on August 21. Ginebra clinch the first finals seat with a win over Shell in the first game while Tanduay frustrated Great Taste for the second time in the season, beating the Coffee Makers, 115-107 in the main game.

Great Taste brought in Johnny Brown and Eric Turner, a less-exciting import combination compared to other teams, for the third conference. After six games in the first round of eliminations and carrying an even 3-3 won-loss card, Brown and Turner were replaced by Lewis Jackson and Alvin Franklin. The Coffee Makers were the last team to enter the four-team semifinals and placed third in the season-ending conference.

Roster

Great Taste Coffee roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From C 1 Victorino, Manny 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Jose Rizal College G/F 5 Watson, Steve 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Ateneo de Manila F 6 King, Abe 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) San Beda College G 7 Lauchengco, Federico 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) FEU C 10 Samlani, Carlson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) San Sebastian College G 11 Manansala, Jaime 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) UE G 12 Sison, Rafael 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Ateneo de Davao F 14 Herrera, Leopoldo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Wesleyan University G 15 Torres, Aaron 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) UE G 22 Gaston, Matthew 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Ateneo de Manila G 23 Brown, Ricardo 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Pepperdine University F 29 Carpio, Bernardo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Ateneo de Manila F 33 Pearson, Willie 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) University of Chaminade G 9 / 34 Kabigting, Renato 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Ateneo de Manila G/F 24 Collins, Jeff (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) G 2 Wilson, Mike (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Marquette University G Jones, Greg (I) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) West Virginia University G/F 14 Holton, Michael (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) University of California G/F 3 Brown, Johnny (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) University of New Mexico G 12 Turner, Eric (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) University of Michigan F/C 24 Jackson, Lewis (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Alabama State University G/F Franklin, Alvin (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) University of Houston	Head coach Baby Dalupan Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie Injured

References

1. Great Taste unveils new sensation
2. Victorino sizzles