The 1981 Presto Fun Drinks season was the seventh season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
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Summary
Under new coach Jimmy Mariano, who took over from Alfonso "Boy" Marquez on the Presto bench at the start of the season, the Presto Fun Drinkers had a pair of Harold Johnson and Myles Patrick for their imports in the Open Conference. Presto opened their season campaign by dropping a 69-95 decision to CDCP Road Builders on March 10, for the all-time lowest output of 69 points. After two games, Patrick was replaced by Earl Tatum, who played four games before getting injured and left without any replacement. The Fun Drinkers won just four of their 18 games in the eliminations.
With the handicap ruling favoring the team in the Reinforced Filipino Conference, the Fun Drinkers enlisted the services of Lew Massey as their import, often called "Sweet Lew", is a prolific scoring machine from North Carolina State and the second round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1978 NBA Draft. Presto also recruited a pair of centers; Manny Victorino and Joel Banal, along with Eddie Boy Mendoza and Jose Roslin, from their farm team in the MICAA. After nine games in the elimination phase, the Fun Drinkers enters the quarterfinal phase with a 5-4 won-loss slate. Presto made it to the semifinal round along with Crispa, U-Tex and Yco-Tanduay, by winning three of their five outings in the round of six. On November 14, the Fun Drinkers beat Yco-Tanduay, 121-114, to finish with an even 3-3 won-loss card and tied with Crispa, which beat first finalist U-Tex in the nightcap, the CFC ballclub lost to the Redmanizers, 114-119, in a playoff game on November 17, in their closest bid to advance in the championship for the first time, the Fun Drinkers placed third in the conference.
Award
Rafael "Cho" Sison was voted the season's Rookie of the year.