Game 52: Crispa 90, Toyota 87 (Nov. 19, 1977)

Crispa rallied in the second half to beat Toyota and earn a spot in the championship series of the 1977 PBA second conference against U-Tex. The loss marked the second straight time the Tamaraws failed to make the finals.

Crispa shades Toyota, 90-87

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Nov. 20, 1977

Crispa, down nearly three-fourths of the way, edged Toyota in their playoff last night, 90-87, to gain the right to meet U-Tex for the championship of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The best-of-five series starts on Tuesday with the Redmanizers and the Wranglers clashing at 7:30 p.m.

The Tamaraws, missing the finals for the second straight time meet the 7-Up Uncolas at 5:30 p.m. in the opener of their own best-of-five series for third place.

Game 51: Toyota 104, Crispa 92 (Nov. 17, 1977)

Toyota defeated Crispa in the final day of the semifinals to force a playoff between both teams for the right to face U-Tex in the 1977 PBA second conference championship series. 

Toyota routs Crispa, gains playoff

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Nov. 18, 1977

Toyota, playing with machine-like precision, steamrolled Crispa last night, 104-92, to arrange a playoff with the Redmanizers for the second championship slot in the Philippine Basketball Association second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Coming up with near-flawless outside shooting, the Tamaraws built up an imposing 25-point bubble in the first quarter and a 29-point lead in the third period and used this to cushion a fourth-quarter Crispa rally.

The two teams thus closed out the two-round semifinals with an identical 7-3 win-loss records in a tie for second place behind front-running U-Tex, which earlier bagged the first finals berth.

Game 50: Crispa 121, Toyota 116 (Nov. 3, 1977)

Crispa made crucial free throws in the final minutes to beat Toyota in the first semifinal meeting in the 1977 PBA second conference. The Redmanizers beat the Tamaraws who played without Francis Arnaiz due to an injury.

Crispa tops Toyota; U-Tex wins

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday Nov. 4, 1977

Crispa, scoring heavily on charities in the fourth quarter, turned back the foul-troubled Toyota Tamaraws, 121-116, to stay in the running in the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers scored their last 25 points mostly on the foul line to break open the pendulum-like game and then withstood a desperate full-court press and double-teaming defense by the Tamaraws in the closing seconds to post the victory, their second in four games.