Robert Jaworski and imports Andy Fields and Bruce “Sky” King powered Toyota to victory over Crispa Walk Tall in the opener of the 1980 PBA season.
Toyota whips Crispa; Honda edges Tefilin
By Bert Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Monday March 17, 1980
Toyota backed up its advantage in teamwork with sharp outside shooting by Robert Jaworski last night to roll back Crispa Walk Tall, 112-107, in the openers of the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
Jaworski collected nine of his 22 points on hits from beyond the 22-foot marker for three-point field goals while Andrew Fields and Bruce “Sky” King outplayed the still adjusting Crispa duo of Glen Mosley and Sylvester Cuyler.
It was, however, the Jeansmakers’ inability to come out with clutch hits that finally decided the outcome of the exciting match played before some 20,000 fans.
Bernard Fabiosa declared war on the whole Toyota camp and singlehandedly put Crispa back into the fight after the Jeansmakers had fallen behind by 11 points twice, the last at 78-67.
The Jeansmakers rallied to within two points several times, the last at 102-100, but after running smack into a tightened Toyota defense in the closing minutes, they took their shots hurriedly and the rally got bogged down.
Jaworski then capped a 5-2 binge with a jumpshot from the outside, 107-102, before Arnulfo Tuadles wrapped up the game for the Tams with another jumper, 109-102, one minute and 41 seconds to go.
Although Crispa threatened anew at 109-105 on a three-point play by Freddie Hubalde, another pair of charities by Fields on a foul by Cuyler quelled the threat, 111-105, 1:02 remaining.
Earlier, Busthe Matheney pumped in 47 points to power Honda Hagibis to a 95-94 squeaker over newcomer Tefilin.
Matheney scored on a variety of shots, including the tournament’s first three-point field goal and personally pushed Hagibis to a 16-point lead, 46-30, in the second quarter, although that advantage banished as the Tefilins staged a rally in the fourth quarter.
With Charles Floyd at the helm. Tefilin closed in at 95-94 but Floyd missed a side jumper a split second before the final buzzer.
“As a whole, the team played very well. We were hitting pretty good from the outside and it was very clear that the Crispa imports were still adjusting to their team’s play patterns,” said Toyota coach Fortunato Acuna.
Despite their loss, Crispa coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan was satisfied with the performance of his team, including its two imports.
“The two are not spectacular but they can be depended upon. I know that given more time, they will be able to blend with the locals and help the team,” Dalupan said.
Dalupan concurred with Acuna that it would be a tough tournament, tougher than last year’s considering the quality of the imports this year.
Crispa took an early five-point lead, 27-32, which it maintained at 33-28 early in the second period before a 14-2 Toyota blast wiped out that advantage as the Tams took command, 43-35.
The Jeansmakers regained the lead at the turn, 53-52, but after Francis Arnaiz tied the count at 53-all, Abe King connected on two foul shots for the go-ahead points, 55-53.
The individual scores:
Toyota — 112
Jaworski 22
Tuadles 22
Fields 18
Arnaiz 15
Florencio 13
B. King 12
A. King 9
Bulaong 1
Herrera 0
Fernandez 0
Crispa — 107
Cezar 23
Fabiosa 19
Cuyler 18
Hubalde 11
Mosley 10
Co 10
Adornado 8
Guidaben 2
Dionisio 2
Javier 0
Varela 0
D.L. Cruz 0
Quarterscores: 22-27, 52-53, 86-83, 112-107
Toyota 22 30 34 26 — 112
Crispa 27 26 30 24 — 107
Refs: R. Manuel, T. de los Reyes, G. Ledesma
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