The cage legend that was Crispa (March 3, 1985)

Crispa's disbandment served as a cover of the March 3, 1985 issue of the Philippine Panorama, with sportswriter Al Mendoza providing an in-depth story of how the Redmanizers decided to end their glorious PBA tenure.

THE CAGE LEGEND THAT WAS CRISPA

By Al S. Mendoza

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday March 3, 1985

BASKETBALL’S self-styled experts had misread their crystal balls. Even the scalper, the most grizzled cage scientist in the land, didn’t see it coming. Nobody had dared say it was blowin’ in the wind.

So, when it finally came, it came like a thunderbolt. The news sent shock waves all over the land. To millions of cage devotees in this basketball-crazed nation, it was simply unbelievable.

Barber shops and plush coffee shop, talipapa and supermarket, every conceivable public space was abuzz. From Aparri to Jolo, from Marawi to Laoag, people were asking: “How come? What happened? Why?”

A champion for all time (Feb. 5, 1985)

Ding Marcelo shared his thoughts on Crispa’s disbandment during his Sportsfan column for Tempo which was published four days the Redmanizers sold the franchise to Shell.

A champion for all time

SPORTSFAN

By Ding Marcelo

Tempo

Published Tuesday Feb. 5, 1985

IT seems almost unbelievable that a man like Danny Floro would disband his fabled Crispa basketball team. We say so because basketball is practically Danny’s life and to take it away from him is like stopping the flow of oxygen into his body. Meaning, it’s like committing suicide.

But, like in the pop song, all things must pass. Danny has perhaps a thousand and one reason to justify his pullout, rationalize his exit, explain his withdrawal but none of which will ever satisfy the thousands of Crispa fans who have stuck with the team from crisis to triumph.

Crispa disbanded (Feb. 1, 1985)

Crispa’s legendary run in the PBA came to an end before the start of the 1985 season after an agreement was reached to sell its franchise to Shell.

Crispa bows out of PBA

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday Feb. 2, 1985

Crispa’s once mighty Redmanizers, the Philippine Basketball Association’s winningest team with a record 13 championships in 10 years, including two grand slams, are bowing out of the professional cage scene.

Reason: Crispa has sold out lock, stock and barrel, to Shell Chemicals, a 60 percent Filipino-owned company engaged in agricultural development.