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.

Game 122: Toyota 102, Crispa 93 (Aug. 30, 1983)

Returning import Andy Fields carried shorthanded Toyota to a win over Grand Slam-seeking Crispa in the first game of both teams in the 1983 PBA Open Conference eliminations.

Toyota downs Crispa

By Willie Caballes

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday Aug. 31, 1983

Defending champion Toyota, playing minus three key men, opened its title-retention drive last night with a 102-93 victory over archrival Crispa in the PBA Open Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Veteran Andrew Fields provided the spark for the Silver Coronas as he celebrated his fourth year in the Open with a team-high 31 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.

Game 121: Crispa 124, Toyota 108 (June 30, 1983)

Crispa pulled away in the fourth quarter to dampen Toyota’s chances of reaching the quarterfinal round of the 1983 PBA Reinforced Filipino Conference.

Crispa rips Toyota; Great Taste in semis

By Clyde Mariano

Tempo

Published Friday July 1, 1983

Crispa banked on another explosive finish to crush arch rival Toyota, 124-108, even as title contender Great Taste virtually nailed down a semifinal berth with a 159-128 thrashing of Gilbey’s Gin in the PBA reinforced Filipino conference last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers dropped a 15-0 opening salvo against the Super Corollas who started like a bunch of amateurs playing in the limelight for the first time.

And although Toyota recovered from the whirlwind attack by the fired-up Redmanizers, taking the first quarter, 28-27, and the half, 55-54, the Super Corollas wilted under Crispa’s powerful windup, starring the incomparable Billy Ray Bates, to absorb their seventh loss in 11 starts.

The defeat put a damper on Toyota’s bid to enter the quarterfinal phase, with hard games coming up against Great Taste and first round tormentor Tanduay.

“Medyo bumigay ang kanilang depensa (Their defense gave way),” lamented coach Ed Ocampo at the dugout.

New import Julius Wayne was hardly a factor, making only 12 points for the night. Arnulfo Tuadles, the new controversial Toyota forward, was also a dismal failure, shooting only two points.

Ramon Fernandez, Abe King and Francis Arnaiz were great shakes but they did not get the support from their teammates.

To qualify for the next phase, Toyota must sweep its last three games and hope for a San Miguel Beer setback. Otherwise, the Super Corollas will join Galerie Dominique on the sidelines for the rest of the tournament.

Great Taste methodically chopped Gilbey’s down to size as it registered its second straight victory since losing to Crispa in Cebu two weeks ago.

The 159 output of the Coffee Makers set a new season high, erasing the 148 record by Gilbey’s against Toyota — last Saturday.

The combined Great Taste-Gilbey’s production of 287 also surpassed the total score chalked by Toyota and the Gimlets in Cagayan de Oro last June 25.

“The boys played well and their defense was quite effective,” GTC coach Jimmy Mariano said.

The troika of Norman Black, William Adornado and Ricardo Brown once again proved decisive for GTC which notched its ninth win in 11 matches.

“Medyo wala sa kundisyon ang mga bata (The boys were not in shape),” was all losing coach Turo Valenzona could mutter.

The Gimlets took their fifth defeat in 11 games but they maintained a firm hold on third spot.

The individual scores:

CRISPA 124 — Bates 40, Co 18, Cezar 17, Guidaben 12, Fabiosa 11, Varela 10, Villamin 8, Hubalde 4, Israel 4, Cruz 0.

TOYOTA 108 — Fernandez 35, King 24, Arnaiz 12, Wayne 12, Jaworski 7, Bulaong 7, Cordero 6, Tuadles 2, Loyzaga 0, Legaspi 0, Relosa 0.

Quarterscores: 27-28, 54-55, 82-81, 124-108.

Game 120: Crispa 122, Toyota 110 (May 29, 1983)

Billy Ray Bates dropped 51 points in his Crispa-Toyota debut, leading the Redmanizers past the Silver Coronas in the first round of the 1983 PBA Reinforced Conference.

Crispa rips Toyota

Tempo

Published Monday May 30, 1983

Billy Ray Bates hit the deck as often as he scored as Crispa hammered out a 122-110 victory over arch rival Toyota in the PBA Reinforced Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Some 20,000 fans watched the Silver Coronas employ every means in the book — including illegal ones — to stop the 6-3 power-playing import of the Redmanizers but the strategy backfired.

Game 119: Crispa 109, Toyota 102 (April 12, 1983)

Crispa avenged its elimination round loss to Toyota by winning the single-round semifinal opener of the 1983 PBA All-Filipino Conference.

Crispa wins

By Tito S. Talao

Tempo

Published Wednesday April 13, 1983

Crispa got back at Toyota, 109-102, and Gilbey’s Gin jolted Great Taste, 115-108, as the semifinals of the PBA All-Filipino Conference got underway last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers, aching to avenge their 86-84 loss to the Silver Coronas in the eliminations, broke away from a close, pulsating match in the fourth quarter to surge to a commanding 93-80 lead which they protected till the final buzzer.

Game 118: Toyota 86, Crispa 84 (March 6, 1983)

Toyota spoiled the debut of Tommy Manotoc as Crispa coach by winning the opener of the 1983 PBA season behind Abe King and Nick Bulaong.

Toyota conquers Crispa; Galerie drops Manhattan

By Raffy Japa

Tempo

Published Monday March 7, 1983

Toyota, with the prodigious Abe King controlling both boards and surprise card Nick Bulaong providing the clutch hits, spoiled Tommy Manotoc’s debut as Crispa coach by outsteadying the Redmanizers, 86-84, last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

The heart-stopping match capped a night of thrilling basketball that ushered in the 1983 season of the Philippine Basketball Association.

Game 117: Crispa 105, Toyota 103 (Nov. 13, 1982)

Philip Cezar’s heroics enabled Crispa to end its disappointing 1982 PBA Open Conference campaign on a high note by defeating quarterfinal-bound Toyota in overtime.

Crispa nips Toyota; G’ralao wins title

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Nov. 14, 1982

Philip Cezar sent the game into overtime with two foul shots with one second left last night and then scored the winning goal in the extension to lift Crispa to a 105-103 victory over arch rival Toyota in the PBA Open Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

The win, which gave Crispa a 61-56 edge over Toyota in their own private series in the play-for-pay loop, served as a consolation for the Redmanizers who had failed to win a single title this season, duplicating their shutout in 1978.

Game 116: Toyota 129, Crispa 119 (Oct. 2, 1982)

Toyota topped Crispa in overtime but not after four players from both teams were ejected during the fourth quarter of their second elimination round meeting in the 1982 PBA Open Conference.

Toyota outplays Crispa

Fight mars game; 4 players thrown out

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday Oct. 3, 1982

With the referees losing control, the intense Crispa-Toyota rivalry, relatively quiet for the last five years, exploded anew last night with a player fight at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Super Corollas, banking on clutch hits by Arnulfo Tuadles and Andrew Fields, outplayed the Redmanizers in overtime, 129-119, before a wildly cheering crowd of some 18,000 fans.

But the result of the explosive contest was hardly the story.

Game 115: Toyota 130, Crispa 114 (Sept. 4, 1982)

Toyota beat Crispa in their first elimination round meeting in the 1982 PBA Open Conference despite the absence of import Andy Fields, Robert Jaworski and Abe King.

Toyota crushes Crispa, 130-114

By Rey Bancod

Tempo

Published Sunday Sept. 5, 1982

Undermanned Toyota, playing one of its finest games in a long, long time, last night spoiled the debut of Crispa’s new imports with a crunching 130-114 conquest of the Redmanizers in the PBA Open tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Super Corollas played without ace import Andy Fields, who came down with the flu. That, plus the fact that playmaker Robert Jaworski and rebound king Abe King remained in the inactive list, made Toyota’s victory a shocker.

Game 114: Crispa 116, Toyota 107 (Aug. 1, 1982)

Crispa claimed the other finals berth in the 1982 PBA Asian Invitational Championship after defeating Toyota in the lone elimination round battle.

Crispa ousts Toyota

Tempo

Published Monday Aug. 2, 1982

Crispa turned the tables on Toyota this time with a 116-107 win last night to set a titular showdown with San Miguel Beer in the PBA Asian Invitational Championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Redmanizers took control of the match from the start and relied on one-on-one specialist Glen Hagan to preserve the win after Toyota had threatened in the dying minutes.

San Miguel earlier formalized its entry into the finals with an easy 109-99 victory over Universal Textiles.

Game 113: Toyota 111, Crispa 104 (June 24, 1982)

Donnie Ray Koonce and Pol Herrera starred in Toyota’s Game 5 win over Crispa that earned them the right to face San Miguel Beer in the 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino championship series.

Toyota tops Crispa, 111-104

By Willie Caballes

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 25, 1982

Donnie Koonce knocked in 39 points and reserve Pol Herrera scored the go-ahead basket in a decisive 12-5 burst in the last four minutes last night to spark Toyota to a 111-104 victory over arch rival Crispa in their knockout match to decide San Miguel’s opponent in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference championship series.

After Herrera, who came in after Arnulfo Tuadles fouled out, shattered a 99-all tie with a drive, the red-hot Koonce erupted for six straight points to give Toyota a commanding eight-point lead, 107-99.

The Redmanizers threatened at 107-104 when Fortunato Co, Jr. hit a three-point shot and drove in but Ramon Fernandez scored on a jumpshot and then Koonce capped his brilliant offensive display with a pair of charities to quench the rally.

Game 112: Toyota 125, Crispa 114 (June 22, 1982)

Ramon Fernandez, Donnie Ray Koonce and Arnie Tuadles led the attack as Toyota forced a deciding fifth game against Crispa in their 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino semifinal series.

Toyota by 11; SMB in finals

By Willie Caballes

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 23, 1982

Toyota, starring the trio of Ramon Fernandez, Donnie Koonce and Arnulfo Tuadles, struck down defending champion Crispa last night, 125-114, to send their best-of-five semifinal series into a rubber match while San Miguel Beer clobbered U/Tex, 118-99, to enter the finals of the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference.

Fernandez fired a game-high 38 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dealt eight assists as the Super Corollas tied the series at two games apiece.

Koonce unloaded 32 points while Tuadles contributed 20 aside from handcuffing Crispa import Glenn Hagan, who scored only 13 points.

Game 111: Crispa 117, Toyota 114 (June 19, 1982)

Glenn Hagan’s 36 points and key free throws by Yoyoy Villamin gave Crispa a 2-1 lead over Toyota in their 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino semifinal series.

Crispa nips Toyota; SMB routs U/Tex

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday June 20, 1982

Defending champion Crispa, again sparked by import Glenn Hagan, edged Toyota last night, 117-114, to take a commanding 2-1 lead in their best-of-five semifinals in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Elpidio Villamin sank a pair of pressure-laden free throws with 12 seconds left to insure the Redmanizers ‘ win after Arnulfo Tuadles narrowed the gap to only one point, 114-115, 55 ticks left.

Game 110: Toyota 122, Crispa 114 (June 17, 1982)

Sparked by import Donnie Ray Koonce’s 41 points and Mon Fernandez’s return, Toyota evened their best-of-five semifinal series in the 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino with Crispa at 1-1.

Super Corollas, Wranglers win

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 18, 1982

Toyota, inspired no end by the return of Ramon Fernandez, outgunned defending champion Crispa, 122-114, and U/Tex battled from 18 points down to beat San Miguel Beer in a protested game last night, 97-95, to square the two PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.

Game 3 of each series will be played tomorrow.

Fernandez, back after a bout with fever, combined with import Donnie Koonce in leading the Super Corollas’ offense while Abe King manned the boards, pulling down 18 rebounds. Koonce scored a game-high 41 points while Fernandez tallied 23.

Game 109: Crispa 115, Toyota 101 (June 15, 1982)

Crispa beat Toyota for a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five semifinal playoff in the 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference.

Redmanizers, Brewers win

By Willie Caballes

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 16, 1982

Defending champion Crispa pulled away in the fourth quarter last night to bring down arch rival Toyota, 115-101, in the opener of their best-of-five semifinal series in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Earlier, San Miguel posted an equally convincing 119-111 win over U/Tex in the other semifinal series.

Robert Jaworski injured his left ankle with one minute left in the third quarter and the Super Corollas, who played a fever-stricken Ramon Fernandez, saw the Redmanizers, starring Glenn Hagan, break away in their attempt.

Game 108: Crispa 111, Toyota 105 (June 1, 1982)

Import Glenn Hagan ended Crispa’s struggles against Toyota in the 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino after winning their third meeting in the eliminations.

Hagan sizzles as Crispa wins

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday June 2, 1982

Crispa, starring Glenn Hagan, finally beat arch-rival Toyota last night, 111-105, as the Redmanizers gained at least a tie for the second and last semifinals berth in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Hagan, regaling a banner crowd with his game-long brilliance, scored a game-high 35 points, made a record eight steals, three of them off Francis Arnaiz and passed for 12 assists to rally the Redmanizers to their 11th win — their first over the Super Corollas in three matches this season.

Game 107: Toyota 129, Crispa 128 (May 1, 1982)

Toyota survived Crispa behind Ramon Fernandez’s 32 points as Bai Cristobal missed a game-tying shot in the final seconds.

Toyota shades Crispa, 129-128

Bulletin Today

Published Sunday May 2, 1982

Arturo Cristobal missed a side jumpshot with two seconds left last night and Toyota came through with its second straight victory over arch-rival Crispa this season, 129-128, in the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference thriller at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Super Corollas found the breather through a pair of charities by Ramon Fernandez off Glenn Hagan’s sixth foul in the last 49 seconds, 129-125, only to find themselves almost in the losing end as Crispa battled back.

Game 106: Toyota 111, Crispa 110 (March 7, 1982)

Terry Saldana made an immediate impact in his debut as Toyota edged Crispa to open the season-opening 1982 PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference.

Toyota nips Crispa five

By Bert Eljera

Bulletin Today

Published Monday March 8, 1982

Rookie Terry Saldana, whose eligibility to play is under question, came through with a pair of clutch baskets in the closing seconds last night as Toyota survived a blistering Crispa rally to pull out a 111-110 victory before some 30,000 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was a smashing opener of the PBA Reinforced All-Filipino Conference ushered in by elaborate ceremonies that blended entertainment with sports.