Game 105: Crispa 111, Toyota 110 (Oct. 15, 1981)

Crispa paraded for the first time three players from MICAA champion Apcor and defeated Toyota in the 1981 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino quarterfinals as Mon Fernandez a game-tying free throw in the dying seconds.

Crispa posts 111-110 win

By Philip Evardone
Bulletin Today

Published Friday Oct. 16, 1981

Ramon Fernandez split his charities with 11 seconds left last night and Crispa escaped with a 111-110 victory over arch rival Toyota in the quarterfinal round of the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Crispa ahead by two, 111-109, the 6’4’’ ace, missed his second try on a foul by Bernard Fabiosa and Crispa import Allan Green skillfully dribbled away the last seconds to preserve the Redmanizers’ victory.

Game 104: Toyota 114, Crispa 106 (Sept. 22, 1981)

An altercation between Crispa coach Baby Dalupan and his player Abet Guidaben marred the first encounter with Toyota in the 1981 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference.

Toyota stops Crispa five

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Sept. 23, 1981

Toyota exploited Crispa’s breakdown in team discipline in the second half last night and walked off with a 114-106 victory to grab the lead in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

With some 20,000 fans watching, the Redmanizers lost their appetite to play after an altercation between coach Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan and Alberto Guidaben late in the third quarter and they fell easy preys to the fired-up Super Diesels.

NBA refs officiate title series (Aug. 9, 1981)

NBA referees Lee Jones and Jim Capers were featured in an August issue of the Philippine Panorama after officiating the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship series between Toyota and Crispa.

With their 20 eyes, NBA referees could spot technical fouls that the local refs couldn’t (or wouldn’t?)

By Al S. Mendoza

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday Aug. 9, 1981

Indeed, the scenario was a rarity, like the pearl in the proverbial deep blue sea. It was happening, this dream of ticket scalpers, this madness called the Sunday Suspense Theater: The Crispa-Toyota war.

Yes, the war was raging and a multitude was gripped no end by frenzy, suspense, panic, ecstasy. For everytime this madness occurs, the world stops turning; it had been that way ever since guys like Robert Jaworski, Atoy Co, Francis Arnaiz, Ramon Fernandez, Bogs Adornado, Philip Cezar invaded the hardcourt: to sow the seeds of cultism, hero-worship addiction to the national religion now commonly known as basketball.

Game 103: Toyota 103, Crispa 97 (July 25, 1981)

Toyota finally defeated Crispa in the deciding fifth game of a championship series to rule the 1981 PBA Open Conference.

Toyota beats Crispa, 103-97, wins PBA title

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday July 26, 1981

Ramon Fernandez and Andrew Fields each scored three points in the dying seconds last night as Toyota finally ended a long, frustrating search for the PBA Open Conference crown with a suspenseful 103-97 win over arch-rival Crispa before a sweltering crowd of some 30,000 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Fernandez and Fields’ point shattered a 97-all tie forged by Philip Cezar with three minutes and 16 seconds left and gave the Super Diesels their seventh PBA championship.

The 6’4’’ Fernandez jumped off Cezar, 99-97, then cooly sank a free throw on a technical foul slapped on Crispa’s Fortunato Co, Jr., before Fields scored the insurance points on a three-point play off James Hardy, 1:29 remaining.

With still seconds to go, the overflow crowd started to spill into the court and threatened to disrupt the game.

Game 102: Toyota 116, Crispa 98 (July 23, 1981)

Toyota denied Crispa a chance to win the 1981 PBA Open Conference crown by sending their best-of-five series to a deciding fifth game.

Toyota rips Crispa, ties series

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 24, 1981

Toyota, with its stars keeping away from foul trouble, rolled back Crispa, 116-98, last night to force a rubber match for the PBA Open championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

A blistering 13-1 Toyota windup engineered by Andrew Fields, Ramon Fernandez and Francis Arnaiz while Crispa lapsed into errors won the game for the Super Diesels after the Redmanizers had threatened to within six points, 103-97, four minutes left.

The victory, Toyota’s third in eight meetings with Crispa this season, squared their best-of-five championship series at two games apiece, making tomorrow’s showdown a winner-take-all affair.

Game 101: Crispa 126, Toyota 116 (July 21, 1981)

Crispa pulled away down the stretch to take a 2-1 lead over Toyota and a win away from taking home the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship.

Crispa stuns Toyota

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 22, 1981

Crispa, starring Alberto Guidaben and Byron “Snake” Jones, held Toyota to a lone field goal in the last four minutes and 20 seconds last night to score a come-from-behind 126-116 victory that moved the Redmanizers within a win of winning their ninth PBA title in seven years at the Araneta Coliseum.

Jones came off the bench with 4:06 to go to handcuff Andrew Fields and combined with Guidaben, Fortunato Co, Jr. and Bernard Fabiosa in unloading an 11-2 bomb that left Toyota in shambles.

The victory — Crispa’s fifth in seven meetings with Toyota this season — gave the Redmanizers a commanding 2-1 lead in their best-of-five championship series and the Redmanizers go for the clincher in Game 4 tomorrow.

Game 100: Crispa 126, Toyota 124 (July 18, 1981)

Crispa survived Toyota after blowing a 23-point lead to tie the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship series at 1-1.

Crispa shades Toyota

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday July 19, 1981

Alberto Guidaben fired 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter last night as Crispa fought back after squandering a 23-point lead to beat Toyota, 126-124, and square their best-of-five series for the PBA Open Conference championship at one game apiece.

Robert Jaworski missed a desperation three-point shot with one second left that could have won the game for the Super Diesels.

The Redmanizers, who had dropped a 123-116 decision in the series opener Thursday night, fell back by four points, 100-104, after the Super Diesels had razed that 23-point lead late in the second quarter, 70-47.

Game 99: Toyota 123, Crispa 116 (July 16, 1981)

Toyota overcame Crispa’s fourth quarter comeback to win the first game of the 1981 PBA Open Conference championship series.

Toyota tops Crispa

Takes best-of-5 opener, 123-116

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Friday July 17, 1981

Toyota refused to wilt under a settling Crispa rally last night and came up with a 123-116 victory in the opener of their best-of-five PBA Open Conference title playoff at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Super Diesels, reduced to rubbles on account of foul disqualifications, had to lean on the relief job of Victor King and the last-minute heroism of Danilo Florencio and Ramon Fernandez to secure the hard-earned victory.

The Redmanizers had trailed practically all the way but a searing 10-2 rally brought the game to where it started, 110-all, 2:06 left to the delight of some 10,000 fans.

Game 98: Toyota 135, Crispa 124 (July 14, 1981)

Toyota defeated Crispa for the first time after four tries in the 1981 PBA Open Conference in a semifinal match that served as a preview of their best-of-five championship series.

Toyota trims Crispa; Wranglers edge SMB

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 15, 1981

With nothing but prestige at stake, the Toyota Super Diesels outgunned the Crispa Redmanizers last night, 135-124, in a high-scoring tuneup for their PBA Open championship series starting tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

Eight Super Diesels scored in double figures as Toyota scored its first victory in four meetings with Crispa this season and topped the semifinal round with a 5-1 card.

Game 97: Crispa 133, Toyota 118 (July 7, 1981)

Crispa downed Toyota in their 1981 PBA Open Conference semifinal game which happened a day after the death of the latter’s former coach Fort Acuna.

Crispa routs Toyota

By Philip Evardone

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 8, 1981

Crispa inflicted more sadness into the mourning Toyota Super Diesels last night with a crushing 133-118 win that sent the Redmanizers into a tie for the lead after the first phase of the PBA Open Conference semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Aaron James sank an undergoal banked shot with two seconds remaining after nearly losing the ball on a spill to lift San Miguel Beer to a hairline 99-98 win over defending champion U-Tex in the other match.

Fortunato Co, Jr. pumped in a team-high 35 points while Bernard Fabiosa played his best game this season with 27 points as they delivered the killing blows for Crispa after Toyota had rallied to within eight points late in the third quarter.

Fans express shock over Acuna's death (July 7, 1981)

Toyota and Crispa held a moment of silence before their semifinal game in the 1981 PBA Open Conference which happened a day after the death of former Tamaraws coach Fort Acuna.

Fans express shock over Acuna’s death

By Al S. Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday July 8, 1981

The local sporting world expressed shock yesterday over the death of Fortunato Acuna even as relatives of the former coach of Toyota kept a tight lip when asked about the possible reasons that might have driven Acuna to commit what police termed as suicide.

Acuna, who turned 33 last April 17, was dead on arrival at the Ospital ng Bagong Lipunan at 1:35 p.m. last Monday after reportedly drinking insecticide.

Game 96: Crispa 109, Toyota 101 (June 21, 1981)

Crispa foiled Toyota’s first crack at clinching the last semifinals berth after winning for their second meeting in the 1981 PBA Open Conference eliminations.

Crispa trounces T’yota, 109-101

Bulletin Today

Published Monday June 22, 1981

Crispa foiled Toyota’s bid to clinch the fourth and last semifinal berth in the PBA Open Conference last night when the Redmanizers ran down the Superdiesels, 109-101, before some 20,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

After a slow start, Baby Dalupan’s charges took control of the match late in the first quarter, roared ahead by 24 points in the third period and then quelled two Toyota uprisings in the final frame to score the convincing victory.

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.