Crispa moved within a win of advancing to the championship series of the 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference after exacting a measure of revenge on Toyota in their first semifinal meeting.
Crispa trounces Toyota quintet, 143-127
By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Friday June 30, 1978
Crispa’s concentrated fury boiled over Toyota last night as the Redmanizers routed the Tamaraws, 143-127, and moved within a game of clinching a finals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Emotions ran high in the electric encounter as Crispa center Alberto Guidaben, seeking redress over a foul committed on him earlier, deliberately hit Ramon Fernandez in the face late in the third quarter, Crispa ahead, 100-83.
Tamaraw Jess Sta. Maria threw the ball at Guidaben in retaliation and both were thrown out of the contest. The penalty carries at least a one-game suspension.
“Wala, punong-puno na marahil (Probably he’s had enough),” Crispa Coach Baby Dalupan commented on the action of Guidaben whom he believed lost his composure when no more than a mere foul had been slapped on his aggressor — Robert Jaworski.
During the last Crispa-Toyota game, Guidaben was hit in the jaw by Fernandez and the Tamaraw was slapped only a foul. Guidaben had to be hospitalized for two days because of the incident.
Crispa’s victory — its third — gave the Redmanizers a sweep of the first round of the two-round four-team semifinals and placed the Tams in a situation in which they must win all their remaining games to gain at least a tie for the finals slot.
Toyota’s woes were compounded by Filmanbank’s hard-earned 98-97 win over Tanduay in the first game.
The victory put the Bankers alone in second place with a 2-1 slate behind Crispa while the Tamaraws have a 1-2 card. Tanduay brings up the rear with 0-3.
Alfredo Hubalde and Fortunato Co, Jr. scored 36 and 32 points, respectively, in an overpowering performance while Guidaben had 18 points before being thrown out.
Philip Cezar only had 15 points but his intimidating presence and his cool handling of Tamaraw centers Fernandez and Abe King helped Crispa avenge its 158-135 loss to their arch rivals last June 20.
“Gustong gusto naming manalo (We wanted very much to win),” said Co, whose first 17 points were scored in the first quarter alone. “And besides, this would be a fitting gift to Crispa owner Pablo Floro who is celebrating his 82nd birthday today.”
Jaworski, whose brilliant and rugged play drew both cheers and jeers from the crowd of 11,000, had 32 points to lead Toyota but it was he who will be remembered as the one who hit Guidaben in the mouth during a rebound play that prompted the latter to retaliate.
The Redmanizers bombarded Toyota with a string of baskets and were never pressured even when the Tams moved near at 70-65 from an early 68-55 halftime deficit.
With Hubalde and Co booming almost unmolested, Crispa pulled away by 25 points, 125-100, six minutes left.
The Tams gave up the fight with still some three minutes left when Coach Dante Silverio, who refused to talk to reporters after the match, pulled Jaworski and Danilo Florencio out of the contest for good.
The scores:
Crispa — 143
Hubalde 36
Co 32
Guidaben 18
Cezar 15
Fabiosa 11
Adornado 10
D.L. Cruz 8
Javier 7
Varela 6
Tanduyan 0
Franco 0
Toyota — 127
Jaworski 32
Estrada 23
Fernandez 20
King 18
Florencio 16
Arnaiz 8
Javier 4
Sta. Maria 2
Salazar 2
Legaspi 2
Crispa 31 37 39 36 — 143
Toyota 23 32 33 39 — 127
Refs: E. Cruz, E. Bartolome, J. Obias
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