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.
Toyota coach Dante Silverio was all
praises for the former University of the East star. “He was
magnificent tonight. This is the first time that I saw him really
play a fantastic game all throughout.”
The victory, fashioned before an outflow crowd at the Big Dome, was Toyota's 16th in 30 games with Crispa.
A bit overshadowed by Toyota's triumph
was Tanduay's surprise 109-106 victory over Royal Tru-Orange in the
first game.
Valerio de los Santos scored the
clinchers for Tanduay with two free throws off Mollet Pineda in the
last 10 seconds as the Distillers handed Royal its third loss in
eight games. It was only the second victory for Tanduay.
The Denims, who dropped into a
three-way tie for third with Royal and Noritake with an identical 5-3
record, controlled the game before collapsing in the homestretch.
The Denims remarkably marched forward
and looked poised to beating their archrivals until the Comets woke
up with a crippling last minute attack
Crispa was ahead, 90-82, with some five
minutes left but an obviously spent Cyrus Mann, suddenly turned ice
cold after starting like a house on fire, fouled Jaworski with 4:45
left.
The composed Jaworski sank both free
throws, and then got an assist from Fernandez after a Crispa miss for
another twinner and personally pitched a lead pass on the next play
to Fernandez himself as Toyota dropped a 6-0 barrage that cut
Crispa's lead to only two, 88-90, less than three minutes left.
Philip Cezar, who blocked Fernandez
twice, scored from deep right, but Jones quickly countered with his
usual authorative drive to ignite another 6-0 Toyota burst that
finally put Toyota ahead, 94-92, 1:38 left.
Crispa coach Baby Dalupan sent in Mann
but the six-foot-10 American was hardly a factor. By then, the Denims
were a beaten bunch, desperately groping for the basket in the face
of the Comets' searing assault.
Gregorio Dionisio scored Crispa's last
blow, a charity off Jones' fifth foul that cut Toyota's lead to one,
94-93.
Then came Jaworski's long tom from left
quartercourt after an inbound, 96-93, 1:20 left.
Bernard Fabiosa sealed Crispa's fate on
the best play when he rifled a wayward pass to Mann, which Jaworski
intercepted and quickly scooted for the basket that all but broke the
Denim's backs.
Jones led all scorers with 31 points as
he routed both Mann and Bill Bunton, who combined for only 28 points.
“Kinapos ang mga bata,” said
Dalupan after the game. (The boys ran out of steam.)
Dalupan also said that Mann,
controversial because of his repeated trips to the United States,
will now stay with the team “for the rest of the conference.”
“He promised to stay with us up to
the end. No more trips to the US,” said Dalupan.
Crispa Manager Danny Floro, when asked
if there was player dissension on the team as rumors would have it
said,” Bali-balita lang iyan. Maganda nga ang samahan ng mga bata.”
(Those are just hearsay. The boys are doing well.)
Toyota – 98
Jones 31
Jaworski 27
Fernandez 12
Acuna 9
Smith 7
Arnaiz 6
Segura 4
Bauzon 2
Cortez 0
Rojas 0
Crispa – 95
Adornado 19
P. Cezar 15
Mann 15
Bunton 13
Co 8
Hubalde 7
Fabiosa 5
Franco 4
Soriano 4
Dionisio 3
Calilan 0
Guidaben 0
Toyota 18 30 24 26 – 98
Crispa 27 19 28 21 – 95
Refs: J. Obias, E. Bernos
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