1978 Filmanbank season

Newcomer Filipinas Manufacturers Bank, controlled by auto magnate Ricardo Silverio, [1] bought the rights of the defunct Seven-Up ballclub to play in the professional league and had employed the core of the Uncolas team led by Larry Mumar, Jimmy Mariano, Jacinto Chua and Roberto Salonga and piloted by coach Lauro Mumar. Though the new ballclub to be known as "Filmanbank" sold Danny Florencio to Toyota, it bought the services of American Billy Robinson and sweet-shooting Jun Papa. The new team has also recruited Angelito Ladores, once the MICAA's top scorer from L.R.Villar.

In their very first conference, the Bankers managed to win only two games in the first round of eliminations due to its incomplete lineup and landed second to last with a 2-5 won-loss slate. But the Filmanbank five forced a three-way tie for 3rd and 4th qualifying seats in the semifinals with Tanduay and U-Tex. They knock the Wranglers en route to the next round. As the semifinals commenced, Filmanbank further rocked PBA tradition by scoring upsets and surprisingly became the first qualifier in the finals while on the same night, Toyota ousted defending champion Crispa to arranged a confrontation with its sister club.

A cinderella finish was in the making but the favored Tamaraws scored two consecutive victories. Filmanbank came in strong in the third game to extend the series to a fourth meeting. In the final championship game, Toyota was just too much as the Bankers were not able to match the speed and scoring of the Tamaraws. Billy Robinson was the biggest factor in Filmanbank's impressive second-place finish while Larry Mumar and Jun Papa had their share of the glory.

PBA Pioneer still loyal to the game@Philstar.com