Game 103: Toyota 103, Crispa 97 (July 25, 1981)

Toyota finally defeated Crispa in the deciding fifth game of a championship series to rule the 1981 PBA Open Conference.

Toyota beats Crispa, 103-97, wins PBA title

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday July 26, 1981

Ramon Fernandez and Andrew Fields each scored three points in the dying seconds last night as Toyota finally ended a long, frustrating search for the PBA Open Conference crown with a suspenseful 103-97 win over arch-rival Crispa before a sweltering crowd of some 30,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Fernandez and Fields’ point shattered a 97-all tie forged by Philip Cezar with three minutes and 16 seconds left and gave the Super Diesels their seventh PBA championship.

The 6’4’’ Fernandez jumped off Cezar, 99-97, then cooly sank a free throw on a technical foul slapped on Crispa’s Fortunato Co, Jr., before Fields scored the insurance points on a three-point play off James Hardy, 1:29 remaining.

With still seconds to go, the overflow crowd started to spill into the court and threatened to disrupt the game.

Game 102: Toyota 116, Crispa 98 (July 23, 1981)

Toyota denied Crispa a chance to win the 1981 PBA Open Conference crown by sending their best-of-five series to a deciding fifth game.

Toyota rips Crispa, ties series

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 24, 1981

Toyota, with its stars keeping away from foul trouble, rolled back Crispa, 116-98, last night to force a rubber match for the PBA Open championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

A blistering 13-1 Toyota windup engineered by Andrew Fields, Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz while Crispa lapsed into errors won the game for the Super Diesels after the Redmanizers had threatened to within six points, 103-97, four minutes left.

The victory, Toyota’s third in eight meetings with Crispa this season, squared their best-of-five championship series at two games apiece, making tomorrow’s showdown a winner-take-all affair.

Game 101: Crispa 126, Toyota 116 (July 21, 1981)

Crispa pulled away down the stretch to take a 2-1 lead over Toyota and a win away from taking home the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship.

Crispa stuns Toyota

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 22, 1981

Crispa, starring Alberto Guidaben and Byron “Snake” Jones, held Toyota to a lone field goal in the last four minutes and 20 seconds last night to score a come-from-behind 126-116 victory that moved the Redmanizers within a win of winning their ninth PBA title in seven years at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jones came off the bench with 4:06 to go to handcuff Andrew Fields and combined with Guidaben, Fortunato Co, Jr. and Bernard Fabiosa in unloading an 11-2 bomb that left Toyota in shambles.

The victory — Crispa’s fifth in seven meetings with Toyota this season — gave the Redmanizers a commanding 2-1 lead in their best-of-five championship series and the Redmanizers go for the clincher in Game 4 tomorrow.

Game 100: Crispa 126, Toyota 124 (July 18, 1981)

Crispa survived Toyota after blowing a 23-point lead to tie the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship series at 1-1.

Crispa shades Toyota

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday July 19, 1981

Alberto Guidaben fired 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter last night as Crispa fought back after squandering a 23-point lead to beat Toyota, 126-124, and square their best-of-five series for the PBA Open Conference championship at one game apiece.

Robert Jaworski missed a desperation three-point shot with one second left that could have won the game for the Super Diesels.

The Redmanizers, who had dropped a 123-116 decision in the series opener Thursday night, fell back by four points, 100-104, after the Super Diesels had razed that 23-point lead late in the second quarter, 70-47.

Game 99: Toyota 123, Crispa 116 (July 16, 1981)

Toyota overcame Crispa’s fourth quarter comeback to win the first game of the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship series.

Toyota tops Crispa

Takes best-of-5 opener, 123-116

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 17, 1981

Toyota refused to wilt under a settling Crispa rally last night and came up with a 123-116 victory in the opener of their best-of-five PBA Open Conference title playoff at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Super Diesels, reduced to rubbles on account of foul disqualifications, had to lean on the relief job of Victor King and the last-minute heroism of Danilo Florencio and Ramon Fernandez to secure the hard-earned victory.

The Redmanizers had trailed practically all the way but a searing 10-2 rally brought the game to where it started, 110-all, 2:06 left to the delight of some 10,000 fans.

Game 98: Toyota 135, Crispa 124 (July 14, 1981)

Toyota defeated Crispa for the first time after four tries in the 1981 PBA Open Conference in a semifinal match that served as a preview of their best-of-five championship series.

Toyota trims Crispa; Wranglers edge SMB

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 15, 1981

With nothing but prestige at stake, the Toyota Super Diesels outgunned the Crispa Redmanizers last night, 135-124, in a high-scoring tuneup for their PBA Open championship series starting tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

Eight Super Diesels scored in double figures as Toyota scored its first victory in four meetings with Crispa this season and topped the semifinal round with a 5-1 card.

Game 97: Crispa 133, Toyota 118 (July 7, 1981)

Crispa downed Toyota in their 1981 PBA Open Conference semifinal game which happened a day after the death of the latter’s former coach Fort Acuna.

Crispa routs Toyota

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 8, 1981

Crispa inflicted more sadness into the mourning Toyota Super Diesels last night with a crushing 133-118 win that sent the Redmanizers into a tie for the lead after the first phase of the PBA Open Conference semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Aaron James sank an undergoal banked shot with two seconds remaining after nearly losing the ball on a spill to lift San Miguel Beer to a hairline 99-98 win over defending champion U-Tex in the other match.

Fortunato Co, Jr. pumped in a team-high 35 points while Bernard Fabiosa played his best game this season with 27 points as they delivered the killing blows for Crispa after Toyota had rallied to within eight points late in the third quarter.

Fans express shock over Acuna's death (July 7, 1981)

Toyota and Crispa held a moment of silence before their semifinal game in the 1981 PBA Open Conference which happened a day after the death of former Tamaraws coach Fort Acuna.

Fans express shock over Acuna’s death

By Al S. Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 8, 1981

The local sporting world expressed shock yesterday over the death of Fortunato Acuna even as relatives of the former coach of Toyota kept a tight lip when asked about the possible reasons that might have driven Acuna to commit what police termed as suicide.

Acuna, who turned 33 last April 17, was dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Bagong Lipunan at 1:35 p.m. last Monday after reportedly drinking insecticide.