Terry Saldana made an immediate impact in his debut as Toyota edged Crispa to open the season-opening 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference.
Toyota nips Crispa five
By Bert Eljera
Bulletin Today
Published Monday March 8, 1982
Rookie Terry Saldana, whose eligibility to play is under question, came through with a pair of clutch baskets in the closing seconds last night as Toyota survived a blistering Crispa rally to pull out a 111-110 victory before some 30,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.
It was a smashing opener of the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference ushered in by elaborate ceremonies that blended entertainment with sports.
Michael M. Keon, the guest of honor in the opening ceremonies, saluted the PBA for what it had been doing to help develop sports, provide entertainment to the people and give economic assistance to the players.
Keon also said that the Philippine Olympic Committee which he heads will help resolve the controversy between the PBA and the amateur Basketball Association of the Philippines regarding the recruitment of amateur players into the PBA.
Mariwasa Honda, handled by the first lady manager in the league Nikki Coseteng, and whose participation remained in the balance for some time, authored the first upset with a close 97-93 win over the U-Tex Wranglers, last year’s losing finalists, in the first game.
James Robinson exploded for 34 points and former San Miguel teammate Antonio Torrente displayed his old form to anchor the win although several misses by the Wranglers in the dying seconds did them in.
The normally steady shooting Lim Eng Beng missed two attempts and William Adornado missed on a drive that would have sent the game into overtime.
Saldana, the basketball prodigy from Olongapo City whose date of birth is now subject of a court litigation, scooped up two loose balls and converted both times to provide the difference in the exciting contest.
The curly-topped Saldana, the first junior player to join a Philippine national team, followed up on a miss by Ramon Fernandez that put Toyota ahead 109-104, two minutes to go.
A three-point shot by Fortunato Co, Jr. shoved Crispa to within two points, 107-109, but Saldana again scored on a follow-up to ice the game for the Super Corollas, 111-107, 30 ticks remaining,
Another triple by Co again put Crispa just a point behind but the Super Corollas dribbled away the remaining 15 seconds.
It was an unexpected finish as the Super Corollas had appeared headed to an easy triumph after pulling away by 18 points several times in the third quarter. the malfunctioning of the time clock and the sound system added some chaos and took some luster off the exciting end.
Saldana also provided the muscle off the boards together with Abe King and Fernandez.
His eligibility to play in the league, however, is under question and it will take some time before a final decision could be reached.
A team owner has filed a case in court questioning his legal age after it was found out that he had made two conflicting affidavits concerning the date of his birth.
A hearing has been set sometime in the middle but in the meantime the PBA has allowed him to play.
No comments:
Post a Comment