Game 95: Crispa 112, Toyota 97 (March 8, 1981)

Behind the debut performance of import James Hardy, Crispa beat Toyota to open the season-opening 1981 PBA Open Conference before more than 20,000 fans at the Big Dome.

Crispa beats Toyota, 112-97, in PBA inaugurals

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Monday March 9, 1981

Crispa defeated arch-rival Toyota, 112-97, behind the spectacular debut of James Hardy last night in the 1981 Philippine Basketball Association Open Conference inaugural presentation at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 24-year-old Hardy banged in 24 points, 10 of them in an explosive rally in the last five minutes that sealed the doom for the Tamaraws.

Two on the road for Toyota (Feb. 20-27, 1981)

SWM SPECIAL REPORT: AN OFF-SEASON HARDCOURT PBA ROADSHOW

TWO ON THE ROAD FOR TOYOTA

Sports Weekly Magazine

Feb. 20-27, 1981

Once just might be enough, but twice?

“Well it could be something,” said Ed Ocampo as he mulled the impact of one win and a possible two over the Crispa Redmanizers in the light chill of a nearing dawn at the Verandah coffee shop of the Hotel Magellan in Cebu City.

It was just 12 hours before the Toyota Tamaraws, with Ocampo as their new coach, were to take on the Redmanizers at the Cebu Coliseum in the first of a two winningest ballclubs aimed at enabling Cebu and Davao to raise funds for the coming Papal visit to these two Southern Cities.

Probably more than Coach Baby Dalupan who only came to Cebu on the day of the game, Ocampo, who arrive with his boys ahead of Dalupan, had a lot riding on the outcome of the Tamaraws’ first meeting with their arch rivals for PBA supremacy. Even assuming that the games were exhibition, nothing-at-stake stints.

No big 20 but it's Crispa on top at the wind up (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Vic Villafranca of the Sports Weekly Magazine with his take on the Crispa's victory in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino Conference championship series also marred by Toyota management's firing of coach Fort Acuna.

No big 20 but it's Crispa on top at the wind up

ON THE LINE 

By Vic Villafranca

Sports Weekly Magazine 

Dec 19-26, 1980

Nine-thirty Thursday evening, December 11 was supposed to have been the time when the clock was to toll midnight for the Crispa Redmanizers in their mind-blowing bid to win their fourth PBA All-Filipino championship on the wings of an unprecendented 20-game sweep.

But in the night of shocks, both on the hardcourt and away from it, the Redmanizers saw their awesome winning streak snapped at 19 by the Toyota ballclub that lost its coach, Fort Acuna, at halftime only to make up for that loss with a resurgence in its old fighting heart to win, 97 to 94, and send the best of five playoffs to Game 4.

Arnold Tuadles sizzles anew (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Arnie Tuadles reflects on his revived play in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino title series for Toyota against Crispa and the firing of coach Fort Acuna in a Sports Weekly Magazine feature.

ARNOLD TUADLES SIZZLES ANEW
(Or, the rebirth of Arnold T.)

By Pyke F. Jocson

Sports Weekly Magazine

Dec. 19-26, 1980

It's been a seesaw affair.

Yes, from that time he made a sensational debut in the PBA which paved the way for his earning the 1979 PBA Rookie of the Year up to the end of this season's All-Filipino, Arnulfo “Arnold” Tuadles’ caging has been characterized by ups and downs, but mostly ups, thank God.

Sensational was the best word to describe Tuadles last year for he was just that with a capital S. No other newcomer in the pro league could lay claim to the word other than him A graphic proof of this was his being named to the mythical five, dislodging the veteran Freddie Hubalde.

Right after the All-Filipino last year, Tuadles game slipped. Some said he’s gone swellhead. Others said he was too hot to handle. Some insiders insisted he was acting like a spoiled brat.

To these accusations, Tuadles could only exclaim in disbelief.

Fort and The Big J: End of a friendship (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Sports Weekly Magazine took a close look at the war of words between Robert Jaworski and Fort Acuna, who was fired as Toyota coach during Game 3 of the 1980 PBA All-Filipino title series against Crispa for benching his long-time teammate.

Fort And The Big J

End of a friendship

Sports Weekly Magazine

Dec. 19-26, 1980

Their friendship daed back to their MICAA days when both were members of the Meralco ballclub.

When. the Reddy Kilowattmen were disbanded, Sonny Jaworski and Fort Acuna remained together as both were signed up by the Komatsu Komets, the first team fielded by the Delta group of companies in bigtime competition.

Column: 8th title for Redmanizers (Dec. 15, 1980)

Bulletin Today sports editor Lito Fernandez with a look back at the 1980 PBA season that ended with Crispa’s triumph in the All-Filipino Conference.

8th title for Redmanizers

NEUTRAL CORNER
By Lito P. Fernandez

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Dec. 15, 1980

By winning the 1980 Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino title, the Crispa Redmanizers took their eighth PBA crown, increasing their overall lead to two over the Toyota Tamaraws who have won six PBA championships.

Only three other teams, including one foreign squad, have won titles in the country’s play-for-pay loop, which started in 1975 and has held 18 conferences since.

Game 94: Crispa 105, Toyota 91 (Dec. 13, 1980)

Crispa delivered the knockout blow on Toyota to win the 1980 PBA All-Filipino Conference crown after winning their best-of-five finals series, 3-1.

Crispa beats Toyota, bags All-Filipino title

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Dec. 14, 1980

Crispa cast off the frustration of not completing a 20-game sweep last night and played with vengeful fury to knock out Toyota, 105-91, and to capture its fourth Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino championship before some 25,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers tried to blow the Tamaraws off the court with a 24-point lead and then fought off the spectre of defeat that struck them in the third game of the best-of-five title series to win pulling away.