Game 85: Toyota 102, Walk Tall 100 (July 22, 1980)

Andy Fields’ three-point play in the final seconds gave Toyota a dramatic win over Crispa to arrange a best-of-five meeting with U-Tex for the 1980 PBA first conference crown.

Toyota edges Crispa five, gains finals

By Al S. Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 23, 1980

Six-foot-eight (203.2 cms) Andrew Fields scored the winning points last night as Toyota nipped Crispa, 102-100, in an exciting down-the-wire match to arrange a title showdown with U-Tex in the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Fields had only 12 points for the night but his last three shoved the Tamaraws to a 102-100 lead from a 99-100 deficit, seven seconds to go.

Crispa had a quick inbound on the return play but Fortunato Co, Jr. missed a hurried shot on the three-point line although a pass to a waiting Larry Boston under the goal would have been safer as there were still four ticks left.

Game 84: Toyota 127, Walk Tall 116 (July 17, 1980)

Toyota stayed in the hunt for a spot in the finals of the 1980 PBA first conference after beating Crispa Walk Tall in their second semis meeting.

Toyota tops Crispa, 127-116

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 18, 1980

Toyota displayed its old killer’s instinct last night and crushed Crispa, 127-116, to gain at least a playoff for the finals berth in the Philippine Basketball Association first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Francis Arnaiz, the man they call “Mr. Clutch,” banged in a game-high 28 points, including a pair of baskets that gave the Tamaraws a safe 120-110 lead with less than two minutes left, a spark Toyota to its fourth victory.

The win gave the Tamaraws the lead in the four-team semifinals with a 4-1 record, a full game ahead of the Jeansmakers and the U-Tex Wranglers, who share second with identical 3-2 slates.

Game 83: Walk Tall 112, Toyota 103 (July 12, 1980)

Crispa Walk Tall arrested its five-game slide against Toyota by winning their first meeting in the semifinals of the 1980 PBA first conference. The victory also put the Jeansmakers one victory shy of making the finals.

Crispa downs Toyota by 9

By Al S. Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday July 13, 1980

An extra sharp Crispa team squandered a 20-point lead but got its second wind in time to beat Toyota, 112-103, and virtually nail down the first of two finals berth in the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 20-point bulge came seconds after the start of the fourth quarter, 97-77. But suddenly, the lead was down to just four points, 105-101, as Toyota cut loose with a scorching 24-8 attack sparked by Robert Jaworski.

Twice, the Tamaraws had a chance to inch closer but each time, Larry Boston foiled them with back-to-back blocks.