The 1980 Tefilin Polyesters season was the first season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

New team

Filipinas Synthetic Fiber Corporation (Filsyn), a textile manufacturing firm, was one of two new companies joining the PBA in the league's 1980 season, increasing the number of teams to 10. Among the amateur recruits of the new ballclub to be known as Tefilin were Jojo de Guzman and four former members of the Philippine team – Efren Manila, Caesar Yabut, Joselito Ocampo and Gregorio Gozum. The team will be handled by veteran coach Fely Fajardo, who was returning to the league after a four-year absence, and with assistant coach Jun Bernardino and team manager Frank Harn. In the Open Conference, the ballclub has enlisted the services of Ira Terrell, starter of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA team's last 36 games in 1976, and Charlie Floyd, a Washington Bullets' third round choice, as their imports. ^[1]

Notable date

March 20: Tefilin scored the season's early shocker, upsetting powerhouse Crispa Walk Tall Jeans, 79-75, for their very first franchise win. ^[2]

Won-loss record vs Opponents

Roster

Tefilin roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. G 5 Tierra, Marty 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) José Rizal F 6 Gozum, Gregorio 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Letran G 7 Manila, Efren 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) F 8 Mariano, Ricardo 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Mapúa G 9 Ocampo, Joselito 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) PSBA C 10 Mendoza, Danilo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Letran G 11 Orozco, Jose 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) UST C 14 Basco, Mario 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) San Sebastian G 15 De Guzman, Fernando 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Letran F 21 Francisco, Jovenal 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Far Eastern F 24 Yabut, Caesar 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Mapúa F 17 Sagarbarria, Amadeo 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) De La Salle F/C 32 Terrell, Ira (I) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) SMU F 33 Floyd, Charles (I) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) High Point	Head coach Fely Fajardo Assistant coach(es) Jun Bernardino Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import Injured

References