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.