Crispa capitalized on the absence of Francis Arnaiz to beat Toyota in the opener of their 1980 PBA All-Filipino championship series and move two wins shy of completing an unprecedented 20-game sweep.
Crispa repulses Toyota, 108-101
By Bert Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Monday Dec. 8, 1980
Crispa moved closer to its date with basketball history with an epic 108-101 win over Toyota before the biggest crowd this season in the opener of their best-of-five series for the PBA All-Filipino championship at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was the hardest game the Redmanizers passed through in the tournament as they worked hard for every point in the face of a tenacious and well-planned Toyota defense.
Two completed fastbreaks by Fortunato Co, Jr., the second coming on a steal by Bernard Fabiosa, were the key points of the exciting contest watched by some 18,000 fans as the Redmanizers surged to a 103-96 lead, one minute and 40 seconds left.
After Ramon Fernandez, who defied all his guard to unload 48 points, scored on a three-point shot, 99-103, Fabiosa came through with a pair of charities and Alfredo Hubalde scored from under for a safe 107-101 lead, 23 ticks remaining.
The victory moved the Redmanizers just two games away from their target of a 20-game sweep.
“This win was very important for us,” said Crispa coach Baby Dalupan, “Now we have all the psychological advantage for the coming games.”
Toyota mentor Fortunato Acuna was unavailable for comment after the game.
Francis Arnaiz missed the action due to a sore throat but his absence was hardly felt by Toyota for more than two quarters as the Tamaraws took control of the game, leading by as many as 11 points, 62-51, in the third quarter.
But as the game wore on and with Fernandez, Abe King and Arnulfo Tuadles in foul trouble, the need for an outside shooter like Arnaiz was felt by the Tamaraws.
In the first game, Tanduay beat GIlbey’s Gin, 116-105, in their own series for third place.
The Redmanizers, who boosted their overall lead to 48-43 over the Tamaraws in their running feud, will gun for their second win tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
The individual scores:
Crispa — 108
Co 27
Hubalde 23
Cezar 19
Fabiosa 15
Guidaben 14
Mamaril 10
Dionisio 0
D.L. Cruz 0
Javier 0
Carpio 0
Toyota — 101
Fernandez 48
Tuadles 26
King 11
Herrera 6
Jaworski 4
Javeri 4
Legaspi 2
Florencio 0
Salazar 0
Quarterscores: 25-22, 46-47, 77-78, 108-101
Crispa 25 21 31 31 — 108
Toyota 22 25 31 23 — 101
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