Toyota Super Corollas


The Toyota Super Corollas were a multi-titled basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association from 1975 to 1984. Founded in 1975 by business and sportsman Dante Silverio, the team, formally named Toyota Athletic Club, was owned by Delta Motors Corporation and played under various names: Komatsu 'Komets, Toyota Comets, Toyota Silver Tamaraws, Toyota Tamaraws, Toyota Superdiesels, Toyota Super Corollas and Toyota Silver Coronas'.
The team won nine PBA championships, ranking sixth in league history, behind the San Miguel Beermen, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Purefoods franchise, Alaska Aces, and fierce rival Crispa Redmanizers.

Profile and franchise

The team debuted in April 1973 as the Komatsu Komets for the PANAMIN basketball tournament. In June 1973, it joined the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association as the Toyota Comets and emerged as champions in its maiden tournament. In January 1975, five MICAA teams met together at the Elizalde & Company canteen to sign a pre-organizational agreement for the formation of what is now known as the Philippine Basketball Association. Dante Silverio, Ricardo Silverio's nephew, was the official representative of Toyota who signed on the dotted line.
In November 1976, the team changed its name to the "Toyota Silver Tamaraws". In the 1977 season, the name was shortened to the Toyota Tamaraws. That same year, the Silverio group debuted its new MICAA team, Crown Motor Sales. The MICAA team, like their PBA counterparts, were likewise successful in the MICAA and was one of three the powerhouse teams of the MICAA, along with Solid Mills and Imperial Textile Mills.
In 1978, FILMANBANK, a bank owned by the Silverio group, joined the PBA after acquiring the 7-Up Uncolas' franchise.
In 1981, the team was renamed the Toyota “Super Diesels,” and in 1982 as the “Super Corollas.” When the 1983 season unfolded, they again changed their name to the Toyota “Silver Coronas” but reverted to the Toyota Super Corollas during the 1983 Open Conference. After the 1983 season, they traded longtime starting power forward Abe King to the San Miguel in order to cut the total payroll.
However, due to corporate losses caused by the prevailing economic crisis, the team came to an end when Delta Motors Corporation sold its PBA franchise to the Lucio Tan group on February 14, 1984. The new franchise debuted in the PBA as Beer Hausen in 1984.
In February 1984, the Toyota franchise officially took a leave of absence from the league after suffering from huge losses in terms of revenues.

Notable players

In alphabetical order. Members of PBA Hall of Fame and PBA's Greatest Players are in boldface.Francis Arnaiz - #8 Ramon Fernandez - #10 Danilo "Danny" Florencio - #22, #44 Robert Jaworski - #7
MICAA :
  • Ed Camus - #13
  • Nat Canson - #12
  • Joseph Galonga - #18
  • Bot Acosta - #16

Imports

Head coaches

Team managers