The Incredible Abe King (June 29-June 6, 1979)

Abe King’s superb play for Toyota in the 1979 PBA All-Filipino semifinals, highlighted by his 60-point output against Crispa that set a record for the season, was featured in the Sports Weekly Magazine.

The Incredible Abe King

COMING OF AGE OF A ONETIME ‘PROBLEM BOY’

By Peter N. Acosta

Sports Weekly Magazine

June 29-July 6, 1979

Earlier in the elimination competitions of the current PBA All-Filipino, Abe King had tried to pull off one-handed dunks. Both times, all he got for his effort was a titter from the crowd as the ball hit the inner rim of the goal and bounced out.

But last June 16, in, of all games, the first encounter between the Toyota Tamaraws and the Crispa Redmanizers in the double round semifinals, King caught a pass from Ramon Fernandez and just when it seemed as all he would do with his solo stint under the basket was to go for a higher percentage lay-up shot, he twisted and rammed the ball in a reverse dunk ala Dr. J.

It was a stunning grandstand play by King and for it, he drew cheers from the packed house thatg attended the packed house that attended the third meeting in the 1979 All-Filipino between the league's two titans.

Game 68: Toyota 121, Crispa 114 (June 28, 1979)

 Toyota turned the tables on Crispa behind Ramon Fernandez to even the best-of-five series for the 1979 PBA All-Filipino crown at 1-1.

Toyota blasts Crispa, evens series

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 29, 1979

Defending champion Toyota, in what its coach said was one of its “perfect nights,” outclassed Crispa, 121-114, last night to square their best-of-five play-offs for the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Conference championship at one game apiece at the Araneta Coliseum.

Banking heavily on Ramon Fernandez’s one-on-one talent, a sustained offensive and Crispa’s lose of heart in the homestretch, the Tamaraws completely dominated play in the fourth quarter to win pulling away and assured at least a fourth game before some 25,000 fans.

“It was a perfect night,” enthused Toyota coach Fortunato Acuna. “We needed the win very badly and everybody responded very well.”

Game 67: Crispa 122, Toyota 107 (June 26, 1979)

Crispa draw first blood against Toyota in their best-of-five duel for the 1979 PBA All-Filipino title behind Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Abet Guidaben and Freddie Hubalde.

Crispa rips Toyota by 15

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 27, 1979

Crispa produced its old, prolific grandeur in grand scale last night to tame defending champion Toyota, 122-107, in the opener of their best-of-five series for the PBA All-Filipino championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers’ night-long brilliance brought to mind the murderous proficiency that created the league’s first dynasty, highlighted by six straight championships as Baby Dalupan’s charges outclassed the favored Tamaraws in all departments of the game.

A PBA black eye (June 23, 1979)

PBA fans were far from pleased with the lack of competition shown by Crispa and Toyota in their second semifinal meeting in the 1979 PBA All-Filipino Conference, as written by Bulletin Today sports editor Lito Fernandez in his column.

A PBA black eye

THE NEUTRAL CORNER

By Lito P. Fernandez

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday June 23, 1979

Some 10,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum — plus thousands of televiewers — had expected another titanic battle between arch-rivals Crispa and Toyota Thursday night. But there was so battle — just a drab scoring exhibition — and the fans were terribly disappointed.

Said one irate Toyota fan while watching the game on television at the office:

“I stayed on instead of going home early just so I could watch the game on TV. But what did I see? This? It’s disgusting.”

“Lokohan lang pala ito (They’re just fooling us,” said another angry fan as he stood up and left in a huff.

Game 66: Crispa 172, Toyota 142 (June 21, 1979)

Crispa second the last finals berth in the 1979 PBA All-Filipino Conference after routing Toyota in their second semifinal meeting. Toyota’s Abe King scored 60 points while Crispa’s Atoy Co dropped 50.

Crispa routs Toyota, gains 2nd finals slot

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 22, 1979

At least five PBA All-Filipino Conference season records were set last night as Crispa tore an undermanned Toyota team to shreds, 172-142, in a tame, free-wheeling contest at the Araneta Coliseum to clinch the second finals berth.

With the victory, the Redmanizers arranged a best-of-five Crispa-Toyota title showdown, marking the seventh time that both teams will be tangling for the championship.

In a game that one would rather forget, both teams cast aside whatever semblance of defense and piled up point after point in a boring, irritating contest that had many in the crowd of 10,000 cursing the two teams for not playing seriously.

Game 65: Toyota 120, Crispa 111 (June 16, 1979)

Toyota put itself in a good position to reach the 1979 PBA All-Filipino Conference championship series after beating Crispa in their first semifinal meeting.

Tams gore Redmanizers

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday June 17, 1979

Defending champion Toyota reduced Crispa to a fumbling, miserable squad in the final quarter last night to produce a come-from-behind 120-111 victory over the Redmanizers in the PBA All-Filipino semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Ramon Fernandez, looking like the leading Most Valuable Player candidate, Francis Arnaiz, Robert Jaworski and Abe King combined all their varied talents in a sparkling last-quarter snow to spark the Tamaraws to their third straight win in the semifinals.

The victory virtually assured the Tamaraws a finals berth and it saddled Crispa with its first loss in the semifinals. The Redmanizers are still though, 34-30, in their running private battle.

Game 64: Crispa 118, Toyota 103 (June 5, 1979)

Crispa exacted revenge on Toyota behind Freddie Hubalde to win a record-tying 14th straight victory in the 1979 PBA All-Filipino Conference.

Crispa tops Toyota by 15

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 6, 1979

Crispa banked on a murderous third-quarter binge last night to stop defending champion Toyota, 118-103, and regain the solo lead with their 14th straight win in the PBA All-Filipino conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The victory, which avenged Crispa’s 114-123 loss to Toyota on opening day, enabled the Redmanizers to tie the longest winning streak in the PBA which they themselves set in 1976 when they recorded their grand slam.

One-time Most Valuable Player Alfredo Hubalde, coming out of the shadows of teammate Fortunato Co, Jr., struck the hardest for the Redmanizers as he ignited an 18-2 third-quarter Crispa barrage that put the Redmanizers on top to stay, 62-57.