Game 53: Toyota 119, Crispa 108 (Dec. 6, 1977)

Toyota defeated Crispa in their only meeting in the 1977 PBA Invitational Championship. The Tamaraws improved to 3-0 while dealing the Redmanizers their first loss in the season’s third conference.

Toyota rips Crispa by 11

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Dec. 7, 1977

Toyota smashed Crispa’s defense with its searing fasrtbreak plays last night to score a 119-108 victory and grab the solo lead in the PBA Invitational Championship before some 20,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tams, who set the all-time record of 102 points scored on fastbreaks last Thursday, were again unstoppable as they tallied 62 points on fastbreaks alone and were seriously threatened after taking the first quarter by 11 points, 38-27.

“If we keep on playing like this, I think we have a good chance of winning the championship,” said Toyota coach Dante Silverio whose boys had failed to make it to the finals twice this season.

Game 52: Crispa 90, Toyota 87 (Nov. 19, 1977)

Crispa rallied in the second half to beat Toyota and earn a spot in the championship series of the 1977 PBA second conference against U-Tex. The loss marked the second straight time the Tamaraws failed to make the finals.

Crispa shades Toyota, 90-87

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Nov. 20, 1977

Crispa, down nearly three-fourths of the way, edged Toyota in their playoff last night, 90-87, to gain the right to meet U-Tex for the championship of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The best-of-five series starts on Tuesday with the Redmanizers and the Wranglers clashing at 7:30 p.m.

The Tamaraws, missing the finals for the second straight time meet the 7-Up Uncolas at 5:30 p.m. in the opener of their own best-of-five series for third place.

Game 51: Toyota 104, Crispa 92 (Nov. 17, 1977)

Toyota defeated Crispa in the final day of the semifinals to force a playoff between both teams for the right to face U-Tex in the 1977 PBA second conference championship series. 

Toyota routs Crispa, gains playoff

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Nov. 18, 1977

Toyota, playing with machine-like precision, steamrolled Crispa last night, 104-92, to arrange a playoff with the Redmanizers for the second championship slot in the Philippine Basketball Association second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Coming up with near-flawless outside shooting, the Tamaraws built up an imposing 25-point bubble in the first quarter and a 29-point lead in the third period and used this to cushion a fourth-quarter Crispa rally.

The two teams thus closed out the two-round semifinals with an identical 7-3 win-loss records in a tie for second place behind front-running U-Tex, which earlier bagged the first finals berth.

Game 50: Crispa 121, Toyota 116 (Nov. 3, 1977)

Crispa made crucial free throws in the final minutes to beat Toyota in the first semifinal meeting in the 1977 PBA second conference. The Redmanizers beat the Tamaraws who played without Francis Arnaiz due to an injury.

Crispa tops Toyota; U-Tex wins

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Nov. 4, 1977

Crispa, scoring heavily on charities in the fourth quarter, turned back the foul-troubled Toyota Tamaraws, 121-116, to stay in the running in the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers scored their last 25 points mostly on the foul line to break open the pendulum-like game and then withstood a desperate full-court press and double-teaming defense by the Tamaraws in the closing seconds to post the victory, their second in four games.

Game 49: Toyota 132, Crispa 120 (Oct. 25, 1977)

Toyota ended eight straight defeats against Crispa by winning the final game of the 1977 PBA Second Conference eliminations that saw the absence of Francis Arnaiz and Bernie Fabiosa and the ejection of Atoy Co.

Toyota dumps Crispa; 7-Up wins

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Oct. 26, 1977

Toyota overpowered a crippled Crispa team last night, 132-120, in a no-bearing but prestige-laden game before a banner crowd at the Araneta Coliseum in the windup of the PBA Second Conference eliminations.

Playing with Coach Dante Silverio said was an “all-out offensive and enthusiastic game,” the Tamaraws, sparked by the dominating play of John Irving and Bruce “Sky” King, led practically all the way and had the game all sewed up after posting an unbeatable 24-point lead, 77-53, in the third quarter.

Game 48: Crispa 107, Toyota 99 (Sept. 22, 1977)

Crispa defeated Toyota for the eighth straight time during the first round of the 1977 PBA Second Conference. The Redmanizers beat the Tamaraws who played without Robert Jaworski due to an injury.

Crispa makes it 8 straight over Toyota

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Sept. 23, 1977

Crispa outlasted archrival Toyota last night, 107-99, in a rugged, physical contest to sweep the first round eliminations of the Philippine Basketball Association second conference before some 28,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

The win was Crispa’s eighth straight over Toyota and widened the Redmanizers’ edge over the Tamaraws in their continuing duel to 27-21.

Game 47: Crispa 124, Toyota 122 (July 14, 1977)

The 47th meeting of the rivalry overshadowed by the do-or-die match between Mariwasa and Tanduay for a berth in the 1977 PBA First Conference Finals. Mariwasa's victory formally ended a streak of six straight title showdowns between Crispa and Toyota.

Mariwasa nips Tanduay, 116-112

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 15, 1977

Mariwasa, getting a big lift when Tanduay lost all its big men on fouls in the homestretch, rallied to edge the Distillers, 116-112, in a scary finish last night to earn a ticket to the best-of-five championship series against Crispa in the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing more than three-fourths of the way, the Honda Panthers got an unexpected windfall when Tanduay centers Jaime Taguines, David Supnet and Victor Sanchez fouled out one after the other that left big Billy Robinson in control of both boards.

Game 46: Crispa 110, Toyota 107 (July 7, 1977)

Crispa closed in on a berth in the 1977 PBA First Conference Finals after defeating Toyota in the first of two meetings in the double-round semifinals. The win kept the Redmanizers unbeaten against the Tamaraws since the start of the season.

Redmanizers win, 110-107

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 8, 1977

Crispa outsteadied Toyota last night, 110-107, in a game that had all the trimmings of a championship match to virtually nail down the first finals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

An interception by Bernard Fabiosa and a miss by Francis Arnaiz in the dying seconds preserved the Redmanizers’ victory, their third straight over the Tamaraws this season.

Fabiosa’s interception of a Robert Jaworski throw-in with the Redmanizers ahead, 109-107, and in the ensuing play, Fortunato Co was fouled by Jaworski with 15 seconds to go.

The usually accurate Co missed both charities and the Tamaraws got the rebound, but Arnaiz muffed his drive that could have tied the score and Fabiosa was fouled in the next play. The Crispa sentinel made good his second free throw to peg the score at 110-107.

Game 45: Crispa 116, Toyota 114 (June 21, 1977)

Unbeaten Crispa edged shorthanded Toyota in their first meeting since an infamous brawl marred their previous meeting two months earlier.

Crispa shades Toyota

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 22, 1977

Crispa outsteadied Toyota in a pulsating down-to-the-wire contest last night, 116-114, and moved to within a game of sweeping the two-round robin eliminations of the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Clutch hits by Fortunato Co, Jr., charities by Alfredo Hubalde and a dribbling error by Toyota’s Oscar Rocha in the dying minutes of the game decided the thriller in favor of the Redmanizers.

The victory, a repeat of Crispa’s 122-121 win over Toyota in a tumultuous season opener last April 17, was the Redmanizers’ 13th straight — just one win shy of a 14-game sweep.

Too early to count chickens (April 28-May 6, 1977)

Vic Villafranca offered his insights on the Crispa-Toyota brawl in an article published by Sports Weekly Magazine a week after the incident.

A RUMBLE AND TUMBLE LEAGUE: TOO EARLY TO COUNT CHICKENS

THE LINE

By Vic Villafranca

Sports Weekly Magazine

Published April 28-May 6, 1977

For displaying conduct unbecoming professional basketball players and adults presumed to know the difference between right and wrong and an act of violence from a love tryst in the park, the nation's two celebrated ballclubs – Crispa and Toyota – got hit last week by a full cycle of punishments that from here on should make the more volatile members of both teams think twice before raising their hands. Even if it's only to go to the little boys' room.

It all began, a no doubt you might have heard from your favorite boxing promoter, when obviously, as a result of what transpired between them on the hardcourt in the closing minutes of their tense ballgame, the players of both teams went almost for each other's jugulars on their way to their respective dugouts.

What ensued was a full blown rumble, you know, the sort of thing one only sees in bar rooms and cowboy flies, in Hell's Kitchen and OK corals, in dead end streets and dark alleys and in those Friday night smokers that were once the bread and butter of Merting Besa's promotions at the Besa Arena.

Crispa, Toyota fined P5,000 (April 21, 1977)

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto fined Crispa and Toyota P5,000 each for their post-game rumble in the opener of the 1977 PBA season, an incident that prompted Metrocom officials to arrest players from both teams.

Crispa, Toyota fined P5,000

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Friday April 22, 1977

Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Leo Prieto fined Toyota and Crispa P5,000 each yesterday for their players' involvement in last Sunday's post-game rumble at the Araneta Coliseum.

PBA legal counsel Rodrigo Salud said the fines are appealable within 72 hours.

Toyota coach Dante Silverio was slapped a fine of P1,000 after he was found guilty of cussing a referee following a technical foul he got from referee Estefanio Bernos in the dying seconds of the Toyota-Crispa match Sunday.

Arnaiz arrested after detention (April 19, 1977)

Players of Crispa and Toyota were released after spending a night in detention, but Francis Arnaiz was arrested after a separate incident involving him and Rudy Hines in a Toyota-U-Tex game at the Araneta Coliseum.

Another PBA row: Toyota cager arrested

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday April 20, 1977

Toyota beat Universal Textiles, 121-115, in the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum. But the real story happened after the game.

Toyota's Francis Arnaiz, fresh from a one-night stint as a detainee at the PC stockade in Fort Bonifacio, was picked up after the game on orders of Brig. Gen. Prospero Olivas, Metrocom commander, for figuring in a commotion with Wrangler Rudolf Hines during the match.

Arnaiz, who keyed Toyota's first win in two games by scoring four of the last eight points of Toyota, including the go-ahead charities with a minute to go, was booked anew for violating conditions for his temporary release.

Crispa, Toyota players detained (April 18, 1977)

Players of Crispa and Toyota were detained by the Metrocom for their involvement in a postgame brawl that marred the start of the 1977 PBA season at the Araneta Coliseum.

All Crispa, Toyota cagers are detained

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Tuesday, April 19, 1977

The Metrocom placed under indefinite detention yesterday 21 Crispa and Toyota players who figured in a post-game riot at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday that left scores injured.

Arrested and now detained at Fort Bonifacio are:

Francis Arnaiz, Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Virgilio Cortez, Jesus Sta. Maria, Oscar Rocha, Aurelio Clarino, Rodolfo Segura, all from Toyota.

Philip Cezar, Alberto Guidaben, Rey Franco, Gregorio Dionisio, Cristino Calilan, Rey Pages, David Cezar, Armando Torres, Rodolfo Soriano, Fortunato Co, Jr., Tito Varela, Bernard Fabiosa, Alfredo Hubalde, all from Crispa.

Still being sought at presstime were Orlando Bauzon and Fortunato Acuna, also from Toyota. Metrocom authorities said they expected the two to give themselves up shortly.

Game 44: Crispa 122, Toyota 121 (April 17, 1977)

A postgame rumble between Crispa and Toyota marred the opener of the 1977 season in what is considered as one of the most memorable moments in PBA history. The Redmanizers won after a last-second technical foul by Tamaraws coach Dante Silverio.

Crispa-Toyota match marred by free-for-all

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Monday April 18, 1977

The circus of basketball hullabaloos that is the Philippine Basketball Association started last night with a real, crushing, big bang at the Araneta Coliseum.

Crispa snatched a last-minute 122-121 victory over Toyota, courtesy of Tamaraw coach Dante Silverio, whose being slapped a technical foul with three seconds left allowed Fortunato Co to sink the pressure-packed marginal shot in his dramatic march to the charity lane.

But the real meat of last night's story was the bloody riot that ensued after the game, undoubtedly a man-size blackeye for the ever-glorified PBA shebang.

Super Coach (Jan. 23, 1977)

The Philippine Panorama, the Sunday magazine of Bulletin Today, ran a feature of coach Baby Dalupan after steering the Crispa Redmanizers to the 1976 PBA grand slam.

SUPER COACH

By Chelo R. Banal

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday January 23, 1977

IT was the best of times. Crispa overpowered stubborn Toyota 11 times during the 1976 pro basketball league to sweep to an overwhelming triple victory. Needless to say, it was a grand slam, a sensational season, a mind-blowing performance and, in a very sweet sense, an everlasting Crispa thrill.

After a cold start in the pro (it was the fourth in team standing in the PBA's first conference first round), the Crispa Redmanizers recovered the fire of their MICAA days to become the Toyota Comets' archrivals for the first and second tournament titles. The rivalry would long be cherished. Finally, Crispa dethroned two-time champ Toyota during the 1975 third conference and since then never went down from its Number One post.

The Redmanizers won 39 of their 57 games during the PBA's first year series. Changing names to Crispa Denims (for advertising purposes since the Crispa-Floro factory in Pasig started milling out denim materials), the quintet bagged 46 of its 61 games during the PBA's second year. Four championships out of six conferences in the Philippine Basketball Association so far. The statistics make Virgilio ' Baby' Dalupan the winningest coach in the league.