Game 88: Crispa 111, Toyota 101 (Oct. 26, 1980)

Crispa won its first meeting against Toyota in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino Conference behind the presence of center Romy Mamaril, who saw action for the first time in the historic rivalry.

Crispa crushes Tams, 111-101

Bulletin Today

Published Monday Oct. 27, 1980

Crispa paraded its tall guys practically throughout last night to seize control of the slot and crush Toyota, 111-101, before some 20,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

Statistics showed the Redmanizers were ahead over the Tamaraws by a single rebound — 55-54 — but what was not shown was the intimidating presence of Romulo Mamaril and company that to take hurried shots from outside.

The Redmanizers were in command from the time they wiped out a 17-24 deficit in the first period.

Four times Crispa led by 12 points and once by 14, 42-28, in the second quarter as the Redmanizers, led by the six-foot-six Mamaril, 6’5’’ Alberto Guidaben and the 6’2’’ Philip Cezar, streaked to their seventh straight win in the All-Filipino conference.

“Ganado ang mga bata (the boys were inspired),” said Crispa coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan. “My only regret is that Mamaril does not have the physique to become a really dominating center.”

“They really played a good game and errors, especially in the first half, hampered us very much,” said Toyota mentor Fortunato Acuna, who added that his injured players — Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz — had not fully recovered.

With its toughest rival out of the way, Crispa is now expected to sweep the elimination and move closer to its target — an unprecedented 20-game sweep up to the championship round.

The Tamaraws suffered their second loss against four victories dropping them to a tie with idle Hagibis for second place with identical 4-2 cards.

It was the 87th meeting between the two dominating ball clubs with the Redmanizers increasing their margin to 45-42.

Guidaben, who struck hardest for the Redmanizers when they took their last 12-point lead, 100-88, topscored for the Redmanizers with 25 points, followed by Cezar with 23.

Fortunato Co, Jr., who sat out practically the third quarter because of foul trouble, hd 17 points. Mamaril had 12, mostly on follow-up shots.

The individual scores:

Crispa — 111

Guidaben 25

Cezar 23

Co 18

Mamaril 12

Fabiosa 10

Dionisio 6

Hubalde 5

Espinosa 4

Carpio 4

D.L. Cruz 2

Javier 2

Varela 0

Toyota — 101

Florencio 25

Tuadles 18

Jaworski 16

Bulaong 13

King 13

Fernandez 7

Arnaiz 4

Herrera 3

Legaspi 2

Quarterscores: 31-26, 54-49, 80-73, 111-101

Crispa  31  23  26  31 — 111

Toyota  26  23  24  28 — 101

Refs: T. de los Reyes, G. Ledesma, V. Mateo