The ‘Double Slider’ that beat the Redmanizers (July 18-25, 1975)

Toyota found a strategy to beat Crispa for the first time in three tries as described by Sports Weekly Magazine in a July 1975 issue. The Comets’ win over the Redmanizers came during their first semifinal meeting in the PBA First Conference.

STORMY CHARGE TO THE PENNANT

The ‘Double Slider’ that beat the Redmanizers

Sports Weekly Magazine

Published July 18-25, 1975

Tag us repetitious, chirping bird, but still Tuesday night at the Dome, Coach Dante Silverio proved to all and sundry the basketball mind he’s got can pull off a stormy but successful pennant charge in the bedazzled first conference of the play-for-money league.

It was clear case of Dante outwitting Baby Dalupan and the Comets outplaying the Redmanizers, a complete turnabout of their first two meetings where the latter made mincemeat out of the vaunted, Snake Jones-reinforced Toyotas.

Yet it was done the hard way; a spectacular way which further added spice to the already growing friendly rivalry between two of the country’s most respectable coaches., the brains and bench-mentors of two of the most powerful basketball teams ever assembled in the land.

Commenting in his genial way, Dante could only say that ‘defense did it.’ Little did he know the forcible effects of his designed offense which kept the Redmanizers at bay almost throughout the spine-tingling battle.

This place calls Dante’s offense pattern as the ‘Double Slider.’ This won him the game, his first against the Redmanizers in three PBA outings. Again, it is the offense that wins a game. At all times.

The ‘Double Slider’ can always play nemesis to the man-to-man defense especially with the bulk and height of Byron ‘Snake’ Jones left alone inside the shaded lane.

Play was simple. Very simple, indeed. It was a pattern play but the only difference was that it was on Jones’ shoulder the task of imitating the movements fell.

Tuesday night, Jones and gangling Fernandez, most of the time positioned themselves at the baseline of the inside perimeter. Jaworski would then dribble to the front of the two and would do a stop-fake. Fernandex would cut to the goal ball-less, faking a received pass, leaving Jones and his man alone. Then the pass and Jones would penetrate.

If double-teamed, Jones would scout for the free, most of the time. Arnaiz, who in turn would shoot from afar or screech for a clean lay-up.

Dalupan knew the play. But you leave no Jones with just a guard under the basket. He’ll score. That night, Jones anticipated th plot and had a grand time feeding the guards who were waxing hot and spewing fire all over the court.

Baby Dalupan admitted the gravity of Jones’ presence but kind enough to praise that ‘Arnaiz and Fernandez did well without the American. The result could have been different had they not played better than they used to.

‘We will be ready the next time around,’ he promised after the game ‘and we will make it a different story.’

Yes, the Redmanizers and the Comets will be charging towards the pennant. One of them is favored to take the flag. Will it be Baby and his Redmanizers or Dante and his Comets? And his ‘Double Slider?’