The rivalry (April 20, 2023)

Lito Tacujan, who covered the infant years of the PBA before becoming the sports editor of The Philippine Star, reflected on the great Crispa-Toyota rivalry in 2023 and was later posted by Philstar.com.

The rivalry

By Lito A. Tacujan

Posted Thursday, April 20, 2023

Philstar.com

Its all fire and brimstone.

The be-all and end-all of what the core of the PBA was all about in its first eight years.

The Crispa-Toyota rivalry was probably forged in hell for all the scintillating  games they dished out, the thrillers that sometimes ended in violent brawls and inflicted injuries to the players.

Or at one time being hauled to a military camp.

 

“There’s no rivalry so intense, contentious, personal.” said an old PBA watcher.

Heart, guts in game of the year (June 2, 2003)

Recah Trinidad wrote his reflections on Toyota’s victory over Crispa in the 2003 Reunion Game on his regular column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Heart, guts in game of the year

BARE EYE
By Recah Trinidad

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Published Monday, June 2, 2003

THEY played the PBA game of the year way, way ahead of schedule.

Nobody had expected it.

In fact, the Crispa-Toyota reunion match was originally conceived as an appetizer, a so-so rematch to raise the curtains for the All-Star weekend.

Whoever altered the Friday night script at the Big Dome, and turned the appetizer into the main event, must be having the biggest laugh of his life.

Reunion: Forgotten dream revisited (June 1, 2003)

Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez reflected on the defining moment of Toyota’s victory over Crispa in the 2003 PBA Reunion Game.

Crispa cries rematch

By June Navarro

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Published Sunday June 1, 2003

IT was a forgotten dream revisited.

Not even Sen. Robert Jaworski, who drilled in the night’s most memorable basket, had fancied such a fantastic ending.

The old, graying devotees came to worship in hordes again.

The players, cold, rusty engines, started their battle slowly, taking creaky strides as though climbing a mountain.

But once they hit their stride, the old, bitter rivalry smoldered.

Reunion: Redmanizers call for ‘return bout’ (June 1, 2003)

The Crispa Redmanizers were quick to challenge the Toyota Tamaraws to a rematch after ending up on the losing end of their Reunion Game in 2003.

Redmanizers call for ‘return bout’

By Tito S. Talao

Manila Bulletin

Published Sunday June 1, 2003

Like “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars” and the Ali-Frazier trilogy, the Crispa-Toyota saga is dying for a new lease in life.

Just when everybody thought the glowing embers were dead, with Robert Jaworski’s picture-perfect three-point shot — his only field goal attempt for the evening — providing the exclamation point to the Philippine Basketball Association’s most bitter rivalry, Terry Saldana, the Reunion Game’s MVP, stepped in and stoked the flicker into a flame.

Reunion: Toyota 65, Crispa 61 (May 30, 2003)

Robert Jaworski’s three off a pass by Ramon Fernandez in the final seconds sealed Toyota’s victory over Crispa in a classic 2003 Reunion Game between the two bitter rivals at the Araneta Coliseum.

‘A joyride back in time’

By Tito Talao

Manila Bulletin

Published Saturday May 31, 2003

FOR PERHAPS the last time in a decade-long rivalry that spanned ages, bridged generations, broke barriers and shattered records, the two greatest basketball forces in the land — the Crispa Redmanizers and the Toyota Super Corollas, clashed for posterity, finally bringing down the curtains before thousands of adoring Philippine Basketball Association fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

And 14 years after it was first extended, Ramon Fernandez returned the favor to Robert Jaworski.

Back in the unforgettable 1989 All-Star game, Jaworski hit Fernandez with a perfect pass under the basket and Fernandez glided under and scored an impossible reverse layup at the buzzer as the Veterans came from behind to defeat the Rookies/Sophomores team, 132-130.

This time, the feeder became the executioner.

Reunion: Crispa, Toyota clash (May 30, 2003)

Crispa and Toyota were bracing a slow-paced but intense encounter in their Reunion Game that kicked off the 2003 PBA All-Star Weekend at the Araneta Coliseum.

Crispa, Toyota clash tonight

Tempo

Published Friday May 30, 2003

Fortunato Co vowed to whip the Toyota Super Corollas. To this Chito Loyzaga responded they will make the Crispa Redmanizers eat their words.

Demons from the past will be resurrected at 5 p.m. today when the Philippine Basketball Association’s legendary ball clubs clash for their reunion game before a huge nostalgic crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, site of these teams’ most memorable battles.

Reunion: Crispa also wants to win (May 28, 2003)

Crispa held a practice session at the Pasig Sports Center two days before facing arch rival Toyota in the Reunion Game of the 2003 PBA All-Star Weekend.

Crispa also wants to win

Manila Bulletin

Published Thursday May 29, 2003

IT MAY be a fun game, but take it from us.

This Crispa-Toyota Reunion Game is serious stuff for the two former PBA squads whose legendary rivalry made the PBA what it is today — the most successful league ever.