The team acquired Manny Paner from Presto and brought in 6-11 Edmund Lawrence and 6-9 James Lister (brother of Alton Lister) for the Open Conference, forming the tallest import combination in PBA history.
On March 10, 1981, CDCP won its first game of the season by limiting Presto to an all-time lowest output of 69 points in the 95–69 victory.
After seven games in the elimination round, Lister was replaced by the returning NBA veteran Jeff Wilkins.
[1] The Road Builders were contending for one of the four semifinals berth and were a game behind the Toyota Superdiesels with one scheduled assignment left, but the Superdiesels won their last game against the Finance Funders to join U-Tex, San Miguel and Crispa in the semifinal round, thereby eliminating the Road Builders.
In the Reinforced Filipino Conference, CDCP paraded Ronald McCoy as their import, the Road Builders again fell short to advance into the next round, they won their last game against Presto Fun Drinks on October 8 for a 4-5 won-loss card but failed to create a tie with Tefilin, which secured the 6th and last spot in the round of six by winning over San Miguel Beermen two nights later.