Toyota, already assured of a berth in the semifinal round, held off Crispa Walk Tall in their second meeting in the eliminations of the 1980 PBA first conference.
Toyota edges Crispa by 2
By Bert Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Friday June 13, 1980
Toyota lost a pair of 17-point leads in the third quarter but held on to a 107-105 victory over arch rival Crispa last night, before some 32,000 fans — the biggest crowd to watch a PBA game this season.
It was a game that had all the ingredients of the fabled Toyota-Crispa rivalry as the Tamaraws, already assured of a semifinal berth, elected to mix it up with the Jeansmakers in a thrill-packed running game.
The U-Tex Wranglers became the second team to qualify for the round of four with a 116-98 romp over deposed champion Royal Tru-Orange in the first game.
The Wranglers, who could not get any headway for three quarters, opened gaps on the Orangemen’s defense in the final period and stormed ahead by 23 points, 112-89, en route to their 11th win in 16 matches.
Thus U-Tex qualified ahead of Great Taste which held on to second place with a 10-4 card, .27 percentage points ahead of the Wranglers.
Toyota’s victory was sealed after a jumpshot by Arnulfo Tuadles, a drive by Robert Jaworski and a masterful play to waste away the last seconds after the Tams found themselves pressed when the Jeansmakers came clawing back to forge three ties, the last at 103-all.
Tuadles’ shot shattered the last tie, Jaworski’s drive on an assist by Francis Arnaiz following a steal off Fortunato Co, Jr. padded the lead to four, 107-103, 44 seconds left, and the Tams went into a stall in the last 25 seconds after Crispa’s Silverster Cuyler knocked in the final point.
“Prestige was at stake in that game. Whenever we play against Crispa, the fans always expect us to put up our best,” said Toyota coach Fortunato Acuna, when asked why they played it so hard considering the fact that they actually did not need the victory.
The Tamaraws, the first semifinal qualifiers, registered their 13th win against two losses and dealt the Jeansmakers their sixth loss in 14 outings.
The Jeansmakers now have to win three of their four matches — against Tanduay, Great Taste, Honda and Gilbey’s Gin — to qualify outright.
Playing without Bruce “Sky” King, who was sidelined with a foot injury, the Tams surprisingly were in command practically all the way, taking a 32-21 lead in the first period.
Although the Jeansmakers rallied and took the lead, 42-40, in the second quarter, the Tams shrugged off the challenge and went on top by 11 points, 60-49, en route to a 60-51 advantage at halftime.
The Tams, starring Jaworski, Tuadles and Fernandez, blastered their way to a 17-point lead twice at 87-70 and 91-74 and were just coasting to victory when the Redmanizers woke up and caught up for the first time, 99-all, with over three minutes left.
Jaworski, playing his 300th game in the PBA, celebrated the occasion with a team-high 25 points as five other Tams hit in double figures.
Fortunato Co, Jr. starred for the losers with a game-high 35 points while Cuyler made 21.
The individual scores:
Toyota — 107
Jaworski 25
Tuadles 20
Fernandez 18
Arnaiz 16
Fields 13
A. King 11
Florencio 4
Herrera 0
Salazar 0
Crispa — 105
Co 35
Cuyler 21
Hubalde 15
Boston 12
Guidaben 7
Dionisio 6
Cezar 6
D.L. Cruz 3
Fabiosa 0
Varela 0
Carpio 0
Quarterscores: 32-23, 60-51, 91-76, 107-105
Toyota 32 28 31 16 — 107
Crispa 23 28 25 29 — 105
Refs: E. Cruz, R. Bartolome, J. Obias
two of the referees Obias and Cruz were the ones who were the referees who made a lot of bum call all in favor of Crispa
ReplyDeletein that fateful Dec 19 1971 game between Meralco and Crispa that led to the ban for life of Jaworski and Reynoso