Toyota frustrated Crispa behind a third quarter surge to create a tie for second behind Crispa with two playdates left in the 1978 PBA second conference semifinals.
U-Tex nips Tanduay; Toyota drubs Crispa
By Bert Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Friday Nov. 3, 1978
Glenn McDonald shot 52 points — a new scoring record in the semifinal round in another stirring performance last night to spark U-Tex to an uphill 100-98 victory over Tanduay that earned for the Wranglers a tie for a slot in the finals of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
The victory — the Wranglers’ fourth straight — preceded Toyota’s vengeful 130-119 thumping of Crispa which put the Tamaraws back in serious contention for a berth in the two-team finals.
Toyota’s win placed the Tamaraws and the 400s dead even in second place with identical 2-2 cards, with a three-way tie for first place among U-Tex, Crispa and Toyota now a possibility.
This tie will materialize if both Crispa and Toyota win their last two remaining games, including victories over U-Tex.
The Wranglers, who need just one more win to formalize their entry into the finals, meet the Tamaraws tomorrow and the 400s on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
In his deadliest form so far, McDonald was like a ball of fire throughout, pumping in points in clusters to save the Wranglers from what looked like a sure defeat when they trailed by 21 points four times in the first half.
The 6-6 (198.1 cms) McDonald, who hardly got scoring support from his teammates in the first period, scored 14 of his points in the final quarter, including what proved to be the decisive basket — a pair of charities on a foul by Victor Sanchez with seven seconds to go.
McDonald’s foul throws shattered the last tie at 98-all and then the Wranglers preserved their advantage by skillfully using their remaining three fouls to prevent the Esquires from scoring.
Byron “Snake” Jones, a tower of strength in that game against Crispa, fared poorly against Tanduay import David Payne, as he scored only one point for three quarters.
Jones, however, redeemed himself in the final period as he starred in an 11-4 binge that gave U-Tex its first taste of the lead at 85-84.
The Esquires struck back, however, behind Freddie Webb, Sanchez and Mike Bilbao to wrest the lead anew, 96-95, two minutes and 10 left.
But then Lim Eng Beng, who had 17 points, scored from the side and then scored one foul throw on Webb’s charging foul, 98-96, 43 seconds left.
Sanchez forged the last deadlock at 98-all when he scored on a long jumpshot with 29 seconds remaining and then McDonald came up with the winning basket on the next play.
A 41-20 blitz by Toyota enabled the Tams to break up a tight contest and catapult them to a commanding 21-point lead at the end of the third quarter, 102-81.
That was all the Tams needed as they coasted in the final period behind Ramon Fernandez and import Carlos Terry, who led the Toyota attack with 28 points and 26 rebounds, respectively.
The Tams led by nine points in the early going before the 400s rallied to take the first quarter by one point, 28-27. It was nip and tuck from there and the second period at 61-all.
The scores:
Toyota — 130
Fernandez 28
Terry 26
Legaspi 18
B. King 17
Jaworski 15
A. King 15
Salazar 11
Bulaong 3
Arnaiz 0
Estrada 0
Javier 0
Crispa — 119
Cezar 21
Co 19
Fabiosa 17
Hubalde 14
Truitt 13
Mills 10
Dionisio 8
Guidaben 8
Varela 7
Adornado 2
D.L. Cruz 0
Javier 0
Quarterscores: 27-28, 61-all, 102-81, 130-119
Toyota 27 34 41 28 — 130
Crispa 28 33 20 38 — 119
Refs: E. Cruz, J. Obias, F. Santarina
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