Manotoc: It's still a long way to go (Aug. 31, 1983)

Crispa coach Tommy Manotoc lamented on losing to Toyota in the start of its Grand Slam in the 1983 PBA Open Conference.

It’s still a long way to go — Manotoc

By Clyde Mariano

Tempo

Published Wednesday Aug. 31, 1983

If there is anything that Crispa cannot live down to, it will be the humiliation it absorbed from arch rival Toyota last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers failed to exploit the absence of three key Toyota players and took a shocking 102-93 defeat in the PBA Open Conference.

But Crispa coach Tommy Manotoc said it’s still a long way to go.

“Our offense was off. It was a beach party,” said Manotoc who added that the Redmanizers were still recovering from the euphoria that followed their title victory in the Reinforced Conference.

The Redmanizers just came from a weekend vacation at Montemar beach.

Toyota coach Ed Ocampo attributed Toyota’s win to determination and a good crowd support.

“Everybody contributed to the victory,” said Ocampo. “Of course, Andrew Fields played an outstanding game.”

Fields scored 31 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, seven of them offensive in a 30-minute stint in the court.

“My import failed to match Fields’ effectiveness,” Manotoc later conceded.

Fields also taunted Crispa’s “superman” Billy Ray Bates to show his dunking prowess during their psy war at the court.

That seemingly bothered Bates as he finished the game with only 23 points.

Statistics wise, Dewayne Scales outplayed Fields, sinking 38 points and grabbing 20 rebounds but his effectiveness to the team pales in comparison with Fields.

“Andy Fields is still Andy Fields,” Manotoc said.

Note: Article incomplete