Team of the Year: Whose else? (Dec. 25-31, 1976)

Legendary announcer Dick Ildefonso broke down Crispa's comeback victory over Toyota in the finals of the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship in a column for Sports World Magazine.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: WHOSE ELSE?

Here's Dick

By Dick Ildefonso

Sports World

Published Dec. 25-31, 1976

The Crispa charisma triumphed over Toyota tenacity in a year-end showdown which turned out to be an anti-climactic letdown after such a classic build-up as both quintets stretch the best-of-five championship series to the limit.

The Redmanizers, in the same fashion that marked their march to three conference titles, again started their bid somewhat doubtfully by dropping two important qualifying round matches to Noritake and Toyota respectively which forced them into a sudden-death play-off with the Porcelain-Makers before their championship confrontation with the Tamaraws.

It appeared to be a short-lived series as the tough Toyotans romped off with back-to-back victories to post an awesome 2-0 advantage which again placed the Crispans with their backs against the wall.

Atoy Co - PBA's MVP (Dec. 23, 1976)

Bulletin Today sports editor Lito Fernandez paid homage to Atoy Co's MVP-like performance in the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship that completed Crispa's grand slam.

Atoy Co – PBA's MVP

THE NEUTRAL CORNER

By Lito Fernandez

Bulletin Today

Published Thursday December 23, 1976

Last year, Fortunato Co, Jr. and girl friend Alona Alegre attended the All-Filipino Sports Awards (AFSA) ceremonies at the Folk Arts Theater, knowing full well that Atoy would not win the basketball award. But they were there, the sweet, lovable duo and Atoy applauded when Toyota's Francis Arnaiz received the award.

This year, Atoy and Alona are expected to be there again and this time, chances are Atoy won't just be a spectator. Judging from his performance this year, especially in the just-concluded All-Philippine championship, Atoy is a cinch for the “Mr. Basketball” title.

In the best-of-five series that ended the other night, Atoy knocked in a total of 159 points for a sizzling average of 31.80 points per game – tops in the series. He was at his best in the decisive fifth game which saw him function like a one-man wrecking crew, shooting a game-high 39 points to break the backs of the Tamaraws.

Game 43: Crispa 110, Toyota 92 (Dec. 21, 1976)

Atoy Co capped off his offensive brilliance with 39 points as Crispa completed its 0-2 comeback against Toyota in the 1976 All-Philippine championship and pull off PBA's first grand slam.

Crispa tops Toyota, wins grand slam

Co unloads 39 to spark Redmanizers' 110-92 win

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday December 22, 1976

Crispa's never-say-die Redmanizers added another first in their glorious history last night as they destroyed Toyota with compelling ease, 110-92, to win the All-Philippine championship and complete a sweep of all Philippine Basketball Association titles this year.

Crispa's victory, their third straight in the best-of-five series, climaxed a long, excruciating climb by the Redmanizers who, aside from scoring the PBA's first grand slam, also became the first team in the two-year-old league to win a title coming from two games down.

A dazzling offensive complemented by a crippling, swarming defense gave the Redmanizers the edge all evening as both teams were initially hampered by the tremendous pressure of the match, missing easy shots and committing ghastly errors in alarming succession to the surprise of some 25,000 spectators at the Araneta Coliseum.

Game 42: Crispa 104, Toyota 103 (Dec. 19, 1976)

Cyrus Mann's jumper late allowed Crispa to repeat over Toyota and force their 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship title series to a rubber match.

Crispa squares series

Wranglers place third

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Monday, December 20, 1976

Crispa, still seething with vengeance, took the measure of Toyota anew last night, pounding out a close 104-103 win in a bruising, tempestous encounter that sent their championship series to a fifth and deciding game tomorrow for the All-Philippine crown of the Philippine Basketball Association at the Araneta Coliseum.

A jumper by Cyrus Mann with 30 seconds left provided the Redmanizers the difference in the pulse-pounding contest after the Tamaraws had uncorked a desperate rally in the last two minutes that saw them outshot the victors, 12-2, from 102-91 down to narrow the gap at what it was at end.

Elbows and at times, even fists, flew in wild abandon and tempers were hard to contain in this fourth meeting between the two clubs. But the Tamaraws appeared more on the verge of losing their cool.

Game 41: Crispa 115, Toyota 105 (Dec. 16, 1976)

Crispa leaned on Atoy Co and Cyrus Mann to prevent Toyota from sweeping the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship finals while keeping its slim grand slam hopes alive with a Game 3 victory.

Crispa clips Toyota, stays alive

Score: 115-105; U-Tex nips N'take

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Friday, December 17, 1976

Crispa derailed the Toyota juggernaut last night as the Redmanizers pounded out a convincing 115-105 victory over the Tamaraws to extend their best-of-five series for the All-Philippine championship to a fourth game Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Their pride pricked by two consecutive losses, the Redmanizers played with the vigor and vitality of a true champion as they outclassed the bewildered Tamaraws who found themselves crippled by fouls and almost demoralized by their own offensive weakness.

Byron “Snake” Jones fouled out with more than six minutes left while Howard Smith, the other half of the mighty American tandem of Toyota, found himself saddled with five fouls with still nine minutes left.

Fortunato Co, Jr., averaging more than 30 points in the last two playoffs, sizzled with 34 as he combined with the inspired Cyrus Mann who hauled rebounds with impunity, blocked shots with regularity and was so agitated by his own performance, that he even ventured to suggest that his team would win against odds of “10-to-1.”

Tamaraws on the go (Dec. 16, 1976)

There seems to be no way Crispa can stop Toyota after two games of the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship finals, as suggested by Bulletin Today sports editor Lito Fernandez.

Tamaraws on the go

THE NEUTRAL CORNER
By Lito Fernandez

Bulletin Today

Published Thursday December 16, 1976

A Crispa fan who was watching the Crispa-Toyota game on TV Tuesday night stood up early in the fourth quarter after the Redmanizers committed another passing error. “Wala. Talo nang talaga. Mananalo ba 'yan e tapon nang tapon (Crispa is finished. How can the Redmanizers win when they always blunder away points?),” he blurted as he steamed out of the room.

Indeed the Redmanizers contributed to their own downfall by playing a highly erratic game. All told Baby Dalupan's boys committed 22 errors, including three straight wild passes by Cyrus Mann in the third quarter, as against 17 for the Tamaraws. In addition, the Redmanizers had 27 turnovers against 22 for the Tamaraws.

Crispa's final two errors in the overtime drove the last nails into the Redmanizers' coffin leading by only one point, they committed another passing error which Francis Arnaiz, playing his usual top-caliber game, parlayed into Toyota's go-ahead basket. In the ensuing play, Fortunato Co tarnished his game-high 41 points when he stepped on the endline, an error which led to Arnaiz's insurance basket.

Game 40: Toyota 118, Crispa 117 (Dec. 14, 1976)

Francis Arnaiz rescued Toyota from the jaws of defeats to stun Crispa and take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series for the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship. Toyota won despite losing three players because of six personal fouls.

Toyota shades Crispa, 118-117

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday December 15, 1976

Toyota's sparkling Tamaraws, displaying nerves of steel in the face of tremendous pressure, overhauled a five-point deficit in the last two minutes last night to subdue the Crispa Redmanizers in overtime, 118-117, that moved them to within a game of clinching the Philippine Basketball Association's All-Philippine Championship.

Francis Arnaiz, epitomizing all that is best in the Tamaraws, banged in his team's last six points as he performed with amazing efficiency, razing an imposing 115-110 Crispa spread and insuring the Toyota victory with a clinching drive in the last five seconds that propelled Toyota on top, 118-115.

No other match between these titans of professional basketball has evoked so much sweat, produced so much animosity as last night's.

Game 39: Toyota 100, Crispa 90 (Dec. 12, 1976)

Francis Arnaiz and Robert Jaworski led a fiery windup as Toyota beat Crispa in Game 1 of the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship. Arnaiz led the Tamaraws with 32 points.

Toyota trips Crispa

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Monday December 13, 1976

Francis Arnaiz and Robert Jaworski sparked a crushing 13-4 Toyota windup last night as the Tamaraws scored a 100-90 win over the error-prone Crispa Redmanizers in the opener of their best-of-five series for the PBA All-Philippine championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Arnaiz and Jaworski, the country's best backcourt combination, took charge in finally applying the brakes on Crispa's last-ditch offensive, unleashing a telling 10-2 blast that gave Toyota an unreachable 97-86 lead, one minute and 30 seconds left.

“Wala. Ginaling talaga sila. Organisado ang laro nila. Walang nag-aapura. Lahat tama sa tiyempo, (They really played well. They were organized and their timing was always right),” Crispa coach Baby Dalupan admitted after the game.

Game 38: Toyota 106, Crispa 100 (Dec. 7, 1976)

Toyota completed a four-game elimination round sweep of the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship while forcing Crispa to face Noritake in a playoff for a spot in the best-of-five title series.

Toyota subdues Crispa, 106-100

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday December 8, 1976

Toyota brought down Crispa last night, 106-100, sending the Redmanizers to a knockout game with Noritake tomorrow for the right to meet the Tamaraws in the best-of-five series for the All-Philippine championship of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The Tamaraws, playing heady, inspired and well-coordinated basketball throughout, surged to 13-point leads four times and never faltered even as the Redmanizers uncorked rally after rally in the final quarter.

When the Redmanizers closed in at 78-83 early in the fourth period, the guns of Francis Arnaiz and a fine-playing Howard Smith gave the Tamaraws a pair of 13-point spreads, the last at 97-84.

Fortunato Co, Jr. scored an evening-high 30 points, including Crispa's last 10 points, but it did nothing to turn the tide and merely narrowed the gap to what it was at the end.

How Crispa did it (Nov. 20, 1976)

Not even the warning signs of a fortune teller and an injury to Bogs Adornado hampered the Crispa Redmanizers' march to the 1976 PBA Second Conference crown.

How Crispa did it

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday November 20, 1976

The omen was bad in Crispa's bid for its third straight Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) championship.

Team manager Danny Floro, whose consultations with fortune tellers and some other not-so-divine characters prior to each championship series carry the weight of grim finality, was shaking his head after emerging in one such session during his team's sojourn in Cebu two weeks ago in the PBA semifinals.

“Wala, hindi raw kami magtsa-tsampyon,” he said with grief written in his face. According to Floro, the fortune teller, obviously with a Visayan accent, had warned him that some of his players would be out to sabotage his bid for a third straight crown.

Game 37: Crispa 103, Toyota 94 (Nov. 18, 1976)

Crispa delivered the knockout blow on Toyota to capture the 1976 PBA Second Conference crown. The 3-1 series victory gave the Redmanizers their third consecutive crown, all at the expense of the Silver Tamaraws.

Crispa beats Toyota, 103-94; wins PBA title

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Friday November 19, 1976

Crispa played its characteristic deadly game last night and brought down Toyota, 103-94, to win the Philippine Basketball Association second conference championship before another banner crowd of some 30,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers, brought to this fourth game of a best-of-five titular series with Toyota by virtue of the Silver Tamaraws' 108-98 victory Tuesday night, controlled the game after erasing an early 1-6 deficit.

There was no fire it seemed from the Silver Tamaraws whose comeback from a 0-2 deficit had placed them on even odds with the Redmanizers for this decisive fourth game.

Game 36: Toyota 108, Crispa 98 (Nov. 16, 1976)

Byron “Snake” Jones and Ompong Segura's heroics prevented Toyota from being swept by Crispa after winning Game 3 of their best-of-five showdown for the 1976 PBA Second Conference crown.

Toyota stays alive in series

Trims Crispa, 108-98

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday November 17, 1976

Toyota's back-to-the-wall Silver Tamaraws, starring Rodolfo Segura and Byron “Snake” Jones in the fourth quarter, turned the tables on Crispa last night, 108-98, to stay alive in the best-of-five series for the PBA second conference championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Segura and Jones scored six points each in a crippling 12-4 Toyota attack in the last five minutes that catapulted Dante Silverio's boys from 90-92 deficit to an irreversible 104-94 lead.

It was a rousing comeback for the Silver Tamaraws who had entered the contest as the underdogs following the 95-92 and 98-93 losses to the Redmanizers in the first two games of the series.

The series now moves into a fourth game tomorrow with the two teams clashing in the second game at 7:45 p.m.

Game 35: Crispa 98, Toyota 93 (Nov. 14, 1976)

Crispa overcame Toyota's fourth quarter rally to gain a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series and move one victory shy of capturing the 1976 PBA Second Conference crown. The trio of Bernie Fabiosa, Atoy Co and Cyrus Mann carried the fight for the Denims in repeating over the Silver Tamaraws.

Crispa edges Toyota

Denims a game away from title

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Monday November 15, 1976

Crispa uncorked a strong finishing kick last night to subdue Toyota, 98-93, for its second straight win that moved the Denims to within a game of clinching the best-of-five series for the PBA second conference title.

Like in their first game, the trio of Bernard Fabiosa, Fortunato Co and Cyrus Mann were the heroes for the Redmanizers as they came up with the decisive blows that firmly stopped a searing Toyota rally in the tension-laden contest watched by an overflow of some 35,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

A resurgent Co, uncharacteristically cold for three quarters, suddenly found his range in the last period and together with Rodolfo Soriano gave Baby Dalupan's boys their biggest of 14 points, 88-74.

Game 34: Crispa 95, Toyota 92 (Nov. 12, 1976)

Import Cyrus Mann and Bernie Fabiosa made the big plays down the stretch as Crispa beat Toyota in the first game of the 1976 PBA Second Conference Finals. Atoy Co topscored for Crispa with 30 points.

Crispa shades Toyota, 95-92

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday November 13, 1976

Crispa scrambled o a 95-92 victory over Toyota last night, relying on two electrifying steals by Bernard Fabiosa in the last 60 seconds, in the opener of their best-of-five series for the Philippine Basketball Association second conference championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Fabiosa, fresh from a three-game suspension, practically broke the backs of the rallying Comets who led for most of the evening as he magnificently teamed up with American import Cyrus Mann in the last five minutes of the tense, excruciating struggle that seemed to build up to volcanic explosion going into the final second.

Game 33: Toyota 109, Crispa 102 (Nov. 10, 1976)

Toyota beat Crispa in a non-bearing semifinal match before the start of their best-of-five title series in the 1976 PBA Second Conference. The game also saw Crispa star Bogs Adornado reinjuring his knee in return from a one-month absence.

Toyota trims Crispa, 109-102

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Thursday November 11, 1976

Toyota captured top semifinal honors last night as the Comets outplayed Crispa in the last three minutes, 109-102, in a game surprisingly marked by extreme cautiousness by both sides at the Araneta Coliseum.

Short of possibly and practically exchanging pleasantries on the court, the Comets and the Redmanizers went through the motions of finishing this final game of the semifinals which had no bearing as the two teams have already arranged a showdown for the second conference title in a best-of-five series beginning tomorrow.

Jaworski, Fabiosa banned 3 games (Nov. 2, 1976)

Robert Jaworski and Bernie Fabiosa were suspended three games each for their punching incident in their 1976 PBA Second Conference semifinal match.

Toyota edges U-Tex

Crispa routs Royal for triple tie; Jaworski, Fabiosa banned 3 games

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday November 3, 1976

Toyota survived immense pressure of a scorching U-Tex rally to prevail, 96-93, in a classic duel that dwarfed Crispa's easy 128-100 win over Royal Tru-Orange in the semifinal round of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Crispa and Toyota's victories threw the race for the two final slots wide open among the Denims, the Comets and the Wranglers. The three teams now have an identical 2-1 record with Royal Tru-Orange bringing up the rear with three straight losses.

The Comets broke a tight, pulsating game in the last quarter to led 84-76 from a 70-74 deficit and was leading 94-86 going into the last two minutes and 30 seconds when U-Tex uncorked a blistering rally.

Game 32: Crispa 113, Toyota 94 (Oct. 31, 1976)

Crispa's second straight lopsided win over Toyota was marred by an alleged punching incident between Robert Jaworski and Bernie Fabiosa late in their 1976 PBA Second Conference semifinals game.

Crispa routs Toyota anew

Score: 113-94; U-Tex crushes Royal

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Monday Nov. 1, 1976

Crispa's fired-up Denims tore through Toyota's defense with impunity last night and scored a repeat one-sided 113-94 victory over the Comets to bounce back into contention in the semifinals of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Denims' sparkling conquest of the Comets, who played without coach Dante Silverio, came after U-Tex's 134-118 rout of Royal Tru-Orange that gave the Wranglers the undisputed lead in the double robin series with two straight wins.

The Denims, who went into the court toting a 106-101 loss to U-Tex in the semifinal round opener, played with the magnificence of a champion team as they tried to maintain their composure in the face of Toyota's harassing tactics in the closing minutes.

Game 31: Crispa 123, Toyota 97 (Oct. 26, 1976)

Crispa avenged its first round defeat to Toyota with a lopsided victory to cap off the eliminations of the 1976 PBA Second Conference. Their match overshadowed a then-record 75 points by Harry Rogers for 7-Up hours earlier against Fiberlite.

Crispa clobbers Toyota, 123-97

7-Up's Rogers fires 75

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Oct. 27, 1976

Crispa tore Toyota's game to pieces last night, handing its bitter rival a 123-97 shellacking as the Denims gained a psychological edge going into tomorrow's start of the Philippine Basketball Association second conference semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Some 23,000 spectators were on hand to witness the massacre as the Denims, smarting from the absence of ace gunner William Adornado, took control of the game from the second quarter on to avenge a 98-95 loss to the Comets in the first round.

An unanswered 13-point explosion by Crispa at the start of the second quarter set the tone of the evening's one-sided match as the Denims took a 10-point 40-30 lead from a 27-30 first quarter deficit.

Though the Comets narrowed the gap as quickly behind Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez, 42-41, the Denims retaliated swiftly to pull away at the half, 53-45, from where they were never again threatened.

Game 30: Toyota 98, Crispa 95 (Sept. 14, 1976)

Robert Jaworski knocked down a pair of crucial jumpers in the homestretch to give Toyota a comeback win over Crispa in their first faceoff in the 1976 PBA Second Conference.

Toyota downs Crispa, 98-95

Jaworski leads Comets; Tanduay upsets Royal

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Sept. 15, 1976

Robert Jaworski played the game of his life last night as the Toyota Comets scrambled past the Crispa Denims, 98-95, in another classic encounter between the two teams in the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jaworski hustled all night as he personally took charge of Toyota's frontlines, capping his fantastic show with two jumpshots in the last minute that gave the Comets an irreversible 98-93 bulge.

Teaming up well with Byron “Snake” Jones, the bulky, six-foot-one Jaworski, who fired 27 points, gave all he had as if it was his last game.

All that mattered for Crispa was to win (July 13, 1976)

The Daily Express broke down Crispa's title victory over Toyota in the 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference finals in what became a turning point in the classic duel between the two archrivals.

All that mattered for Crispa was to win

By Ernesto Gonzales

Philippines Daily Express

Published Tuesday July 13, 1976

IN THE FABLED Crispa-Toyota rivalry, dyed-in-the-wool Crispans will never forget the last 12 minutes of Sunday's classic.

It was the stretch the Redmanizers almost bungled a 19-point lead that could have changed the fortunes of the series.

Coach Baby Dalupan just about summed up the Redmanizers' last-quarter plight: “With an almost insurmountable lead, the idea of a crown conquest danced in their heads. Their concentration was distracted. And when Toyota mounted a rally, they panicked.”

It was not really an ideal way to clinch a championship match. But this was a victory against Toyota and no matter how the final game was decided, Crispa's title march was nothing short of spectacular.

Game 29: Crispa 101, Toyota 100 (July 11, 1976)

Crispa survived a last-ditch comeback by Toyota to clinch the 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference crown with a 3-1 series victory. It was the Redmanizers' second straight title to tie the Comets, who captured the first two championships of the pro league. Toyota almost forced overtime but Ramon Fernandez missed one of his two free throws in the dying seconds.

Crispa nips Toyota, 101-100, wins crown

Philippines Daily Express
Published Monday July 12, 1976

Crispa blew an 18-point lead and had to scramble in the final quarter to eke out a pulsating 101-100 victory over Toyota and capture the All-Filipino Conference title of the Philippine Basketball Association last night.

Ramon Fernandez, who struck from under for 101-99 after William Adornado had given Crispa a 101-97 spread in the last 35 seconds, had the equalizer in his hand when he was fouled in the last eight seconds by Bernard Fabiosa.

But Fernandez missed the first throw as Toyota fans in the crowd of 32,000 let out a cry of dismay. That was it. He sank the second one, but Crispa dribbled away the remaining seconds for the victory that left many limp with excitement.

Game 28: Crispa 121, Toyota 114 (July 8, 1976)

Undermanned Crispa rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter and steal another game from Toyota to take a 2-1 lead in their 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference finals series.

Crispa wins, nears title

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 9, 1976

Crispa's “Magnificent 8” worked with chilling efficiency in the final quarter last night to turn back Toyota, 121-114, and needs only to win Sunday's fourth game in their best-of-five series to win the Philippine Basketball Association's All-Filipino Conference championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

The same hardy band of eight Redmanizers, the remnants of what before was a group of 12 first class hardcourt performers until decimated by injuries and suspensions, plucked victory from the jaws of defeat, outscoring the Comets, 35-21, in the final 12 minutes for a commanding 2-1 lead in their championship series.

The Comets appeared tantalizingly close to sweeping the Redmanizers off the court when they led by 11, 99-88, early in the final period on Francis Arnaiz and Rodolfo Segura's heroics.

But no sooner had they tasted their biggest lead for the evening when Crispa exploded on a 14-3 barrage to level at 102-all.

Game 27: Crispa 117, Toyota 112 (July 6, 1976)

Despite being decimated by the absence of several players led by Philip Cezar for various reasons, Crispa erased an early deficit and stunned Toyota their 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference finals series at 1-1.

Crispa stops Toyota, 117-112

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 7, 1976

Crispa, reduced to only eight men by injuries and suspensions, bucked this monumental deficiency last night and rolled back Toyota, 117-112, to even up their best-of-five series at one win apiece, thus assuring a fourth game for the All-Filipino PBA championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers, a death sentence seemingly hanging over their heads, responded with surprising efficacy – erasing an early 11-point deficit and then outplayed the double-teaming Comets in the final quarter to score the longshot victory to the delight of some 25,000 spectators.

Cristino Calilan, a tiny, sometimes panicky Crispa reserve who played under the shadows of his more illustrious teammates, helped preserve the victory, intercepting three times in the last quarter and banging in four crucial charities to emerge part-hero in the error-filled contest.

Game 26: Toyota 119, Crispa 115 (July 4, 1976)

Toyota overcame the lost of five players because of six personal fouls and stunned Crispa in Game 1 of the 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference finals. The Comets took the series opener despite trailing by 12 points in the third quarter.

Toyota wins, 119 to 115

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Monday July 5, 1976

Toyota lost five men on fouls and then while the jampacked crowd gasped in intense anticipation, a pair of over-the-hill campaigners delivered the bombs that gave the Comets a 119-115 victory over the Crispa Redmanizers and a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five series for the All-Filipino PBA conference championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Durable Joaquin Rojas, Jr., in the twilight of a storied career, and Rolando Marcelo, vainly seeking the form that catapulted him into prominence many years ago, scored back-to-back hits when it most mattered, putting Toyota ahead, 119-113, and on top of their arch-rivals whom they have now beaten three straight times.

Half of the story was carved on the foul throw line where Crispa ignominiously missed six shots in the last five minutes, four of them by the usually unerring Fortunato Co, and the star of the banned film “Uhaw...” will never probably lived down those misses.

Cezar banned three games (July 2, 1976)

Philip Cezar was suspended for the first three games of the best-of-five series for the 1976 PBA All-Filipino title for punching Ramon Fernandez in the Crispa-Toyota semifinal game.

Cezar gets 3-game ban, P500-fine

Bulletin Today
Published Saturday July 3, 1976

Crispa ace center Philip Cezar was suspended for three playing days and fined P500 yesterday as the Philippine Basketball Association, acting in consultation with the Games and Amusements Board, acted swiftly on the punching incident involving Cezar and Comet Ramon Fernandez during the other night’s Crispa-Toyota game.

The PBA, through commissioner Leo Prieto, meted out the punishment after watching the video tape of the game and hearing the sides of the two players who confronted each other at the commissioner’s office.

Also present were representatives from the GAB.

The suspension means Cezar will not be able to play for his team in the first three games of the best-of-five series for the All-Filipino PBA championship which begins tomorrow.

Game 25: Toyota 103, Crispa 101 (July 1, 1976)

Philip Cezar’s ejection for punching Ramon Fernandez marred Toyota’s win over Crispa in the final semifinal round game before their best-of-five showdown for the championship of the 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference.

Toyota five nips Crispa, 103-101

By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Friday July 2, 1976

Toyota pulled Crispa down to earth last night, winning 103-101, but more importantly, the Comets may have gotten ahead of the favored Redmanizers in the betting odds after Crispa’s premier center Philip Cezar was ejected for throwing a punch at Ramon Fernandez.

Cezar, who drew a four-month suspension also for hitting Fernandez during the All-Philippine Championship, faces a possible three-game suspension and a fine of not less than P500 should he be proven guilty.

Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Leo Prieto will review the video tape of the incident this afternoon and then possibly call the persons involved to a confrontation before he metes out punishment.

Game 24: Toyota 104, Crispa 102 (June 24, 1976)

Francis Arnaiz scored the winning basket to complete Toyota’s comeback over Crispa in the semifinal round of the 1976 PBA All-Filipino Conference. The victory gave the Comets the solo lead in the four-team, round-robin phase.

Toyota five nips Crispa, 104-102

By Norberto Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Friday June 25, 1976

Toyota, given up for lost in the final 75 seconds, capped a searing comeback last night with a lightning-quick 6-0 blast to turn back Crispa-Floro, 104-102, in a pulse-pounding match before some 25,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory - Toyota’s first over Crispa in the All-Filipino conference of the Philippine Basketball Association - gave the Comets the undisputed lead in the semifinal round with three straight victories.

Game 23: Crispa 121, Toyota 97 (June 6, 1976)

Crispa took advantage of the absence of several key players of Toyota to win their second meeting in Cebu City. The victory was also the second straight for the Redmanizers against the Comets in the 1976 PBA First Conference.

Crispa routs Toyota, 121-97

By Al Mendoza
Bulletin Today
Published Monday June 7, 1976

CEBU CITY, June 6, - Crispa-Floro bucked a jittery start tonight and went on to rout an undermanned Toyota team, 121-97, and take the undisputed lead in the All-Filipino conference of the Philippine Basketball Association at the Aznar Coliseum here.

The Redmanizers trailed the Comets four times in the first quarter, the last at 29-31, as the seven Comets unleashed a gallant stand to the delight of some 5,000 spectators.

Crispa took the first quarter by only one point, 33-32, then settled down to business, dropping to a 10-2 bomb to pocket the second quarter by 10, 61-51. William Adornado fired six of his game-high 29 points in this flurry.

Crispa was never threatened after that as Baby Dalupan’s boys breezed to their 12th win against only one loss. The defeat was only the second for Toyota against 11 wins.

Game 22: Crispa 105, Toyota 95 (May 4, 1976)

Philip Cezar marked his return from a lengthy suspension by leading Crispa to a win over Toyota in their first meeting of the 1976 PBA season. The match also saw the ejection of Abet Guidaben for throwing a punch at Ramon Fernandez in the second quarter.

Crispa trims Toyota, 105-95

By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Wednesday May 5, 1976

Crispa-Floro, playing an inspired, heads-up game, outgunned arch-rival Toyota, 105-95, last night and reasserted its reputation as the country’s top all-Filipino team in the first round wind-up of the Philippine Basketball Association tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers, who trailed by as much as eight points early in the second quarter, bucked the disqualification of center Alberto Guidaben to score the prestige-laden victory that pulled them abreast with the Comets on top of the standings with identical 7-1 records.

Guidaben was thrown out barely 15 minutes of the game for throwing a punch at Comet Ramon Fernandez during a rebound scuffle underneath the Toyota goal.

Despite claims of Guidaben that he blocked out when Fernandez reportedly swung at him, the offense carried automatic suspension and a fine of not less than P500.

Crispa-Floro, Team of the Year (Jan. 11, 1976)

The Philippine Panorama took a closer look at the Crispa Redmanizers after beating the Toyota Comets in the 1975 PBA All-Philippine Championship. The Sunday weekly magazine of Bulletin Today even mentioned the Redmanizers as the Team of the Year for capturing the most important title of the PBA’s inaugural season.

We’re No. 1

By Chelo Banal
Philippine Panorama
Published Sunday January 11, 1976

THERE’S jubilation now in the Crispa quarters as there should be when a team feels vindicated. Twice the Crispa boys were close to it but didn’t make it. Finally the pieces fit, the poem rhymed and they took the PBA All-Philippine championship title.

Never mind the bruises - they’ll heal in time - and the fines - it’s only money - and Philip Cezar’s suspension - he’ll only miss half the ‘76-PBA’s first conference. For the moment the Redmanizers are ready to paint the town red.

Don Pablo Floro is holding small brown envelopes containing cash bonus for each player. As the Redmanizers break into wide smiles for their souvenir team photos, he says, “Ang sinasabi ko lang sa inyo ay maging loyal kayo sa team.” He takes a puff at his cigar and then distributes the envelopes while the boys cheer wildly.