1985 Great Taste Coffee Makers season

Summary

The Great Taste Coffee Makers, which won two straight titles last season, open its campaign for a third straight crown by defeating a new-look Ginebra San Miguel, formerly Gilbey's Gin, 102-99, on opening night at the league's new home; The ULTRA in Pasig. The Coffee Makers spoiled the debut of Sonny Jaworski's role as Ginebra playing coach. After four games and the Coffee Makers carried a 2-2 won-loss card, the team decided to replace their import Napoleon Johnson in favor of Joe Binion. Great Taste made it to the semifinals outright along with Tanduay as both teams finish on top of the elimination round standings with 8 wins and 4 losses. The Coffee Makers posted a 5-1 record in the semifinal round and beat Northern Consolidated (NCC) in overtime, 102-94, on the last playing date of the semifinals on May 16, to set up a championship showdown with Norman Black's Magnolia Ice Cream. The finals series were tied at two games apiece when in Game five, the Coffee Makers won over Magnolia by a huge 26-point margin, 121-95, as Ricardo Brown scored 41 points. In Game six, Great Taste blew the game wide open in the fourth period to win, 122-104, and captured their third straight championship, with Ricardo Brown once again scoring big with 39 points, just two points shy of his output in the previous game.

The defending All-Filipino champions, favored to retain their crown, as expected led the team standings in the eliminations and semifinals of the All-Filipino Conference. Great Taste went on to play surprise finalist and first-year ballclub Shell Azodrin in the championship. The Coffee Makers easily won the first two games but the Bugbusters extended the series by winning the third game by one point, 103-102. Great Taste won their fourth straight title on August 20, routing Shell Azodrin, 110-91, in Game four for a 3-1 series victory.

With the possibility of winning the grandslam, Great Taste brought in highly regarded Wally Rank as their import for the third conference, five games into the eliminations and the Coffee Makers carrying a 3-2 won-loss card, Wally Rank opted out and was replaced by Michael Britt, who led Great Taste to one victory in four games he played, Cory Blackwell plane in to replace Britt as the third reinforcement of Great Taste in the conference. The Coffee Makers were in danger of missing a semifinals berth, during their last game in the quarterfinals against Magnolia on October 31, Great Taste trailed for most of the way and facing outright elimination but prevailed over the Thirst Quenchers in the end, 106-101, in a match that saw a post-game altercation between Magnolia teammates Rudy Distrito and Joey Loyzaga, and among others involved in the melee, Melchor Ravanes of Magnolia and Chito Loyzaga of Great Taste. The victory set up a sudden-death playoff with Magnolia for the last semifinals berth. On November 3, Great Taste repeated over Magnolia, which played without the suspended Rudy Distrito, in a knockout game, 99-95, to eliminate the Thirst Quenchers and keep their grandslam hopes alive.

In the semifinal round, Great Taste were tied with Ginebra at two wins and one loss after the first round, the Coffee Makers lost their next two outings to Manila Beer and Northern, facing another must-win situation, Great Taste ousted Ginebra from the finals race with a 138-130 win on November 17, the Coffee Makers' grandslam bid finally ended in a playoff match against Northern for the second finals berth, NCC led by 20 points at halftime and never allowed the Coffee Makers to come close in a 123-107 victory as their defense held leading MVP candidate Ricardo Brown to a zero output for the whole game. Great Taste placed fourth in the season-ending conference.

Awards

Roster

_{Team Manager: Ignacio Gotao}