winning the Asian Invitational championship, defeating Crispa Redmanizers, two games to one, in the best of three series. That team remains as the only squad the multi-titled Crispa never beat in a PBA finale. One of SMB's rookies, Marte Saldana, won Rookie of the year honors at the end of the season. Manotoc moved to Crispa in 1983 and replacing him in the Beermen bench is former national coach Nat Canson. Gold Eagle Beermen (1984) The team was renamed as Gold Eagle Beermen for the 1984 season. The SMC ballclub had found a corporate rival with the entry of Asia Brewery's Beer Hausen Brewmasters, which had taken over the disbanded Toyota franchise. Despite Gold Eagle acquiring the services of Toyota's top forward Abe King and signing two rookies; Joey Loyzaga and Dante Gonzalgo, the team placed second to last at the bottom of the cumulative team standings. Magnolia Ice Cream/Quench Plus (1985); Magnolia Cheese (1986) In 1985, the franchise carried another name as Magnolia Ice Cream (Magnolia was then a division of San Miguel Corporation), a name SMC first used with their team in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL). Former import Norman Black returned to the squad and this time, he was not only their import but as the team's playing coach. The Ice Cream Makers made it to the Open Conference finals against powerhouse Great Taste Coffee Makers and lost in six games. In the Reinforced Conference, the team became known as Magnolia Quench Plus. The Thirst Quenchers were booted out of the semifinals by Great Taste in a playoff game. The franchise filed for a leave of absence from the league after the 1985 season. In the aftermath of the People Power Revolution, San Miguel Corporation chairman Danding Cojuangco fled the country. At the start of the 1986 season, some Magnolia players were absorbed by different teams, newcomer Alaska Milkmen acquired three from Magnolia and signed Norman Black to a one-year contract. After a two-conference leave, the SMC franchise returned in the third conference and were known as Magnolia Cheese. The new lineup consisted of eight players from the former NCC team; Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Yves Dignadice, Franz Pumaren, Elmer Reyes, Alfie Almario, Pido Jarencio and Tonichi Yturri. Only Manny Paner was the only holdover from the previous Magnolia team. They also signed two players straight from the amateur ranks; Alvin Teng and Jeffrey Graves. Back