DeWayne Scales, who had a short-lived NBA stint, will be Billy Ray Bates' partner for the Open Conference. The Redmanizers played their first game a week after they clinch the second conference trophy, they lost to Toyota Super Corollas, 93–102 on August 30, which played minus the big three (Fernandez, Jaworski & Arnaiz) but the game was highly anticipated because of the import match-up between Bates and Toyota's returning import Andrew Fields. After playing seven games in the first round of eliminations, Scales was replaced by Larry Demic. Crispa and Great Taste were tied on top of the standings with nine wins and five losses and both teams once again gained automatic berth to the next round. In the four-team, double round-robin semifinals, the Redmanizers scored big victories over Gilbey's, 138-122 on November 20, and San Miguel, 136-114 on November 22, in the second round that puts them a win away from a finals entry along with San Miguel Beermen going into the last scheduled playdate. Gilbey's and Great Taste refuses to call it curtains and prevailed over San Miguel and Crispa respectively as the four semifinalist ended up with identical three wins and three losses.
