Back in February 1984, Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Arnulfo Tuadles and Chito Loyzaga were in a bind following the sale of Toyota to Beer Hausen. The four players were not keen on playing for the new franchise at the time.

On February 18, 1984, Shareholdings Inc. gave the four players the green light to negotiate with other teams although all could have possibly ended up with Gilbey’s Gin.

Then-PBA President Carlos “Honeyboy” Palanca III clarified that the contracts of all 11 Toyota players involved in the sale were meant to make sure that no one would be left out. He added that the sale was made by Toyota management in the best interest of everyone concerned.

“It was like a father entrusting his children to someone who could provide better because he was not in a position anymore to do so,” Palanca said.

Jaworski, Arnaiz didn’t owe a favor

Before the decision to let the Big J and company free, Jaworski and Arnaiz met with Palanca on February 17, and promised that Gilbey’s Gin would be their priority.

“But I told them: You are free. You can negotiate with other teams. I will not hold you down to our contracts,” the PBA top brass said.

Beer Hausen’s choice

Shareholdings Inc. opted to release the four players who came out with a statement before that they cannot play in a team where former teammate Ramon Fernandez is playing.

“We decided to let them go rather than suffer a big headache later on,” an unnamed Beer Hausen insider said at the time in a report by Bert Eljera.

Palanca also shared that while all the players were taken in by Beer Hausen, it was later decided that Jaworski and Fernandez could not go together because of a reported rift.

With imports temporarily banned for that season, the Brewmasters decided to take in Fernandez to make sure that they had someone who could man the center position.

“It was not a matter of who was the better player or the more popular one. It was more of what the team needed,” Palanca stated.

The PBA President also added that he made a commitment to Beer Hausen, promising that whoever is not taken in will be absorbed by Gilbey’s Gin. At the time of the report, only Jaworski and Arnaiz were certain of making the team.

The same could not be said for Tuadles and Loyzaga at the time.

Had the four former Super Corollas been taken in, it would have been an overhaul for Gilbey’s.

However, Palanca assured that this would not be a problem since there were teams interested in getting some of his players.

In the end, it was only Jaworski and Arnaiz that joined the Gins. Loyzaga and Tuadles would sign with the Great Taste Coffee Makers.