The cage legend that was Crispa (March 3, 1985)

Crispa's disbandment served as a cover of the March 3, 1985 issue of the Philippine Panorama, with sportswriter Al Mendoza providing an in-depth story of how the Redmanizers decided to end their glorious PBA tenure.

THE CAGE LEGEND THAT WAS CRISPA

By Al S. Mendoza

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday March 3, 1985

BASKETBALL’S self-styled experts had misread their crystal balls. Even the scalper, the most grizzled cage scientist in the land, didn’t see it coming. Nobody had dared say it was blowin’ in the wind.

So, when it finally came, it came like a thunderbolt. The news sent shock waves all over the land. To millions of cage devotees in this basketball-crazed nation, it was simply unbelievable.

Barber shops and plush coffee shop, talipapa and supermarket, every conceivable public space was abuzz. From Aparri to Jolo, from Marawi to Laoag, people were asking: “How come? What happened? Why?”

The Day Toyota Died (March 4, 1984)

Al Mendoza looked back at the stunning decision of the Toyota management to sell its franchise to Beer Hausen prior to the start of the 1984 season in a lengthy feature published by the Philippine Panorama.

The Day Toyota Died

By Al S. Mendoza

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday March 4, 1984

THE ANNOUNCEMENT came minutes before noon of February 15.

“Management has been grateful to all you guys,” Jack Rodriguez started. Ten men of all sizes didn’t know it was coming. They were all in a happy mood. They have no inkling that anybody, least of all Jack, would be so nasty as to break their hearts. Just the day before they had celebrated Valentine’s Day. One of the boys didn’t make it to Jack’s office because he had overslept.

“Your achievements brought honor to the company,” Jack continued. “The feats that made Toyota one of the great basketball teams in the land made us all very happy and proud of you all.” Pause. The boys started to sense something eerie.

“Hey, what’s this?” one of them asked.

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.

No big 20 but it's Crispa on top at the wind up (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Vic Villafranca of the Sports Weekly Magazine with his take on the Crispa's victory in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino Conference championship series also marred by Toyota management's firing of coach Fort Acuna.

No big 20 but it's Crispa on top at the wind up

ON THE LINE 

By Vic Villafranca

Sports Weekly Magazine 

Dec 19-26, 1980

Nine-thirty Thursday evening, December 11 was supposed to have been the time when the clock was to toll midnight for the Crispa Redmanizers in their mind-blowing bid to win their fourth PBA All-Filipino championship on the wings of an unprecendented 20-game sweep.

But in the night of shocks, both on the hardcourt and away from it, the Redmanizers saw their awesome winning streak snapped at 19 by the Toyota ballclub that lost its coach, Fort Acuna, at halftime only to make up for that loss with a resurgence in its old fighting heart to win, 97 to 94, and send the best of five playoffs to Game 4.

Arnold Tuadles sizzles anew (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Arnie Tuadles reflects on his revived play in the 1980 PBA All-Filipino title series for Toyota against Crispa and the firing of coach Fort Acuna in a Sports Weekly Magazine feature.

ARNOLD TUADLES SIZZLES ANEW
(Or, the rebirth of Arnold T.)

By Pyke F. Jocson

Sports Weekly Magazine

Dec. 19-26, 1980

It's been a seesaw affair.

Yes, from that time he made a sensational debut in the PBA which paved the way for his earning the 1979 PBA Rookie of the Year up to the end of this season's All-Filipino, Arnulfo “Arnold” Tuadles’ caging has been characterized by ups and downs, but mostly ups, thank God.

Sensational was the best word to describe Tuadles last year for he was just that with a capital S. No other newcomer in the pro league could lay claim to the word other than him A graphic proof of this was his being named to the mythical five, dislodging the veteran Freddie Hubalde.

Right after the All-Filipino last year, Tuadles game slipped. Some said he’s gone swellhead. Others said he was too hot to handle. Some insiders insisted he was acting like a spoiled brat.

To these accusations, Tuadles could only exclaim in disbelief.

Fort and The Big J: End of a friendship (Dec. 19-26, 1980)

Sports Weekly Magazine took a close look at the war of words between Robert Jaworski and Fort Acuna, who was fired as Toyota coach during Game 3 of the 1980 PBA All-Filipino title series against Crispa for benching his long-time teammate.

Fort And The Big J

End of a friendship

Sports Weekly Magazine

Dec. 19-26, 1980

Their friendship daed back to their MICAA days when both were members of the Meralco ballclub.

When. the Reddy Kilowattmen were disbanded, Sonny Jaworski and Fort Acuna remained together as both were signed up by the Komatsu Komets, the first team fielded by the Delta group of companies in bigtime competition.

The Incredible Abe King (June 29-July 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.

Too early to count chickens (April 28-May 6, 1977)

Vic Villafranca offered his insights on the Crispa-Toyota brawl in an article published by Sports Weekly Magazine a week after the incident.

A RUMBLE AND TUMBLE LEAGUE: TOO EARLY TO COUNT CHICKENS

THE LINE

By Vic Villafranca

Sports Weekly Magazine

Published April 28-May 6, 1977

For displaying conduct unbecoming professional basketball players and adults presumed to know the difference between right and wrong and an act of violence from a love tryst in the park, the nation's two celebrated ballclubs – Crispa and Toyota – got hit last week by a full cycle of punishments that from here on should make the more volatile members of both teams think twice before raising their hands. Even if it's only to go to the little boys' room.

It all began, a no doubt you might have heard from your favorite boxing promoter, when obviously, as a result of what transpired between them on the hardcourt in the closing minutes of their tense ballgame, the players of both teams went almost for each other's jugulars on their way to their respective dugouts.

What ensued was a full blown rumble, you know, the sort of thing one only sees in bar rooms and cowboy flies, in Hell's Kitchen and OK corals, in dead end streets and dark alleys and in those Friday night smokers that were once the bread and butter of Merting Besa's promotions at the Besa Arena.

Super Coach (Jan. 23, 1977)

The Philippine Panorama, the Sunday magazine of Bulletin Today, ran a feature of coach Baby Dalupan after steering the Crispa Redmanizers to the 1976 PBA grand slam.

SUPER COACH

By Chelo R. Banal

Philippine Panorama

Published Sunday January 23, 1977

IT was the best of times. Crispa overpowered stubborn Toyota 11 times during the 1976 pro basketball league to sweep to an overwhelming triple victory. Needless to say, it was a grand slam, a sensational season, a mind-blowing performance and, in a very sweet sense, an everlasting Crispa thrill.

After a cold start in the pro (it was the fourth in team standing in the PBA's first conference first round), the Crispa Redmanizers recovered the fire of their MICAA days to become the Toyota Comets' archrivals for the first and second tournament titles. The rivalry would long be cherished. Finally, Crispa dethroned two-time champ Toyota during the 1975 third conference and since then never went down from its Number One post.

The Redmanizers won 39 of their 57 games during the PBA's first year series. Changing names to Crispa Denims (for advertising purposes since the Crispa-Floro factory in Pasig started milling out denim materials), the quintet bagged 46 of its 61 games during the PBA's second year. Four championships out of six conferences in the Philippine Basketball Association so far. The statistics make Virgilio ' Baby' Dalupan the winningest coach in the league.

Team of the Year: Whose else? (Dec. 25-31, 1976)

Legendary announcer Dick Ildefonso broke down Crispa's comeback victory over Toyota in the finals of the 1976 PBA All-Philippine Championship in a column for Sports World Magazine.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: WHOSE ELSE?

Here's Dick

By Dick Ildefonso

Sports World

Published Dec. 25-31, 1976

The Crispa charisma triumphed over Toyota tenacity in a year-end showdown which turned out to be an anti-climactic letdown after such a classic build-up as both quintets stretch the best-of-five championship series to the limit.

The Redmanizers, in the same fashion that marked their march to three conference titles, again started their bid somewhat doubtfully by dropping two important qualifying round matches to Noritake and Toyota respectively which forced them into a sudden-death play-off with the Porcelain-Makers before their championship confrontation with the Tamaraws.

It appeared to be a short-lived series as the tough Toyotans romped off with back-to-back victories to post an awesome 2-0 advantage which again placed the Crispans with their backs against the wall.

Crispa-Floro, Team of the Year (Jan. 11, 1976)

The Philippine Panorama took a closer look at the Crispa Redmanizers after beating the Toyota Comets in the 1975 PBA All-Philippine Championship. The Sunday weekly magazine of Bulletin Today even mentioned the Redmanizers as the Team of the Year for capturing the most important title of the PBA’s inaugural season.

We’re No. 1

By Chelo Banal
Philippine Panorama
Published Sunday January 11, 1976

THERE’S jubilation now in the Crispa quarters as there should be when a team feels vindicated. Twice the Crispa boys were close to it but didn’t make it. Finally the pieces fit, the poem rhymed and they took the PBA All-Philippine championship title.

Never mind the bruises - they’ll heal in time - and the fines - it’s only money - and Philip Cezar’s suspension - he’ll only miss half the ‘76-PBA’s first conference. For the moment the Redmanizers are ready to paint the town red.

Don Pablo Floro is holding small brown envelopes containing cash bonus for each player. As the Redmanizers break into wide smiles for their souvenir team photos, he says, “Ang sinasabi ko lang sa inyo ay maging loyal kayo sa team.” He takes a puff at his cigar and then distributes the envelopes while the boys cheer wildly.

STREAK-SNAPPING PLOT

The Sports Weekly Magazine published an inside look at how Crispa snapped its six-game losing skid against Toyota during their out-of-town PBA Second Conference semifinal game in Cebu City.

STREAK-STOPPING PLOT

THE INSIDE STORY
Sports Weekly Magazine
Published November 14-21, 1975

Thousands called them favorite ‘Whipping Boys! Almost everybody, including the fanatical followers, thought the Crispa-Floro Redmanizers had been buried too deep when they lost six straight matches to Toyota. But Sunday night in Cebu City, the Florians came alive, subjecting the Comets to a humihilating defeat that untangled a skein of defeats.

Also, the spell’s broken when the final buzzer sounded the end of their 48-minute hostility with the Redmanizers leaping with joy into each other’s arms and an ardent admirer jumping into the center of the court shouting, ‘They can’t beat us all the time. We did it. The jinx is shattered!’

Rodolfo Segura: He keeps his chin up (Oct. 31-Nov. 7, 1975)

Sports Weekly Magazine’s feature on Ompong Segura after his go-ahead basket gave Toyota a thrilling victory over Crispa in the 1975 PBA Second Conference.

RODOLFO SEGURA: HE KEEPS HIS CHIN UP ON THE HARDCOURT

Sports Weekly Magazine

October 31-November 7, 1975

The crowd had started sparse in the Second Conference of the PBA. But last October 9 at the Araneta Coliseum, a large crowd came to see the classic match between the top two favorites in the tournament — Toyota and Crispa-Floro.

The going was tough. The hordes of Toyota fans in the Coliseum were shrieking at the top of their voices. The score was even at 108. With barely three seconds to go, Rudy Segura received a long pass from Jake Rojas, Rudy made a line drive from the left angle and laid up to beat the gun. And Segura’s heroics clinched the game for the Comets at 110 to Crispa’s 108.

Toyota Pennant: Something new, old, borrowed and permanent?

The Sports Weekly Magazine with a look back at Toyota's title victory over Crispa in the 1975 First Conference.

TOYOTA PENNANT
SOMETHING NEW, OLD, BORROWED AND PERMANENT?

Sports Weekly Magazine
Published August 15-22, 1975

The year was 1973 when Dante Silverio sat on his leathery chair fronting a miniature basketball court nestled on his table; his contemplative face suddenly lit up with eagerness upon hearing what was said lightly.

"You can do it," was the repeated phrase.

Dante nodded and eyed back the player-bedecked miniature basketball court, the same area which he thought someday could give him a better share of the spotlight.

There and then, Dante was not just the owner, manager but also the basketball mind of the Toyota Comets.

The ‘Double Slider’ that beat the Redmanizers (July 18-25, 1975)

Toyota found a strategy to beat Crispa for the first time in three tries as described by Sports Weekly Magazine in a July 1975 issue. The Comets’ win over the Redmanizers came during their first semifinal meeting in the PBA First Conference.

STORMY CHARGE TO THE PENNANT

The ‘Double Slider’ that beat the Redmanizers

Sports Weekly Magazine

Published July 18-25, 1975

Tag us repetitious, chirping bird, but still Tuesday night at the Dome, Coach Dante Silverio proved to all and sundry the basketball mind he’s got can pull off a stormy but successful pennant charge in the bedazzled first conference of the play-for-money league.

It was clear case of Dante outwitting Baby Dalupan and the Comets outplaying the Redmanizers, a complete turnabout of their first two meetings where the latter made mincemeat out of the vaunted, Snake Jones-reinforced Toyotas.

Yet it was done the hard way; a spectacular way which further added spice to the already growing friendly rivalry between two of the country’s most respectable coaches., the brains and bench-mentors of two of the most powerful basketball teams ever assembled in the land.