Don’t blame refs - Prieto (Oct. 10, 1982)

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto defended the league’s pool of referees after being criticized for its handling of the second Toyota-Crispa match in the 1982 PBA Open Conference.

Don’t blame refs — Prieto

‘Discipline starts with teams’

Tempo

Published Sunday Oct. 10, 1982

The eight Philippine Basketball Association teams will have to police their ranks to prevent hardcourt fights and other incidents which are blamed on the referees most of the time.

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto said it is the duty of club officials, particularly the team managers and coaches, to instill discipline among their players.

Life ban poised on three cagers (Oct. 7, 1982)

Bernie Fabiosa, Francis Arnaiz and Abe King were handed hefty punishments and for their role in a brawl that marred the second Crispa-Toyota meeting in the 1982 PBA Open Conference.

Life ban poised on three cagers

Tempo

Published Friday Oct. 8, 1982

Three players from Toyota and Crispa were meted stiff penalties as the Philippine Basketball Association cracked the whip on the hotheads following last Saturday’s violent incident at the Araneta Coliseum.

Aside from the suspensions and fines slapped on them, PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto issued an ultimatum to Abe King and Francis Arnaiz of Toyota and Bernard Fabiosa of Crispa.

The three were to behave or face a lifetime ban.

3 players suspended (June 23, 1978)

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto suspended and fined three players while Crispa and Toyota were also handed stiff sanctions for the heated exchanges that marred their 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference match.

3 players suspended; PBA semis on today

Bulletin Today

Published Saturday June 24, 1978

Hit by fines and suspensions slapped on some of their key players, tournament favorites Toyota and Crispa tackle separate rivals today at the start of the semifinals of the Philippine Basketball Association All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

That brawling game last Tuesday has exacted a dear price on both the Tamaraws and the Redmanizers.

Toyota plays surging Filmanbank at 5:30 p.m. minus backcourt-man Fortunato Acuna while Crispa is in a more difficult situation as it will face Tanduay at 7:30 p.m. without the services of Philip Cezar and Gregorio Dionisio.

Silverio on Floro's comments (June 22, 1978)

Toyota coach Dante Silverio responded to comments made by Crispa team manager Danny Floro, who deplored the Tamaraws for what he described as rough house tactics.

Film’bank ousts U-Tex, 103-96

Bulletin Today

Published Friday June 23, 1978

Big Billy Robinson provided the muscle and delivered the key baskets last night as Filmanbank eliminated U-Tex, 103-96, to bag the fourth and last seat in the semifinals of the PBA All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

In his usual role as the Bankers’ workhorse, the burly Robinson ruled the boards and pumped in 15 of his 32 points to spark a decisive fourth quarter splurge that buried the Wranglers for good.

Two players may be suspended (June 22, 1978)

Hefty sanctions loomed after Crispa-Toyota figured in heated incidents that marred their second round match in the 1978 PBA All-Filipino Conference.

U-Tex-Fil’bank playoff tonight

2 players may be suspended

Bulletin Today

Published Thursday June 22, 1978

The looming suspension of at least two players, the possible loss of a key cager by Crispa and another harsh reprimand against referees shadow tonight’s playoff between U-Tex and Filmanbank for the fourth and last semifinal slot in the All-Filipino Conference of the Philippine Basketball Association at the Araneta Coliseum.

The tumult and controversy stem from Tuesday night’s Crispa-Toyota encounter that saw one player from each team ejected for rough play and Redmanizers center Alberto Guidaben rushed to the hospital after absorbing what spectators believed was a deliberate punch from Tamaraw Ramon Fernandez.

Sentinels Gregorio Dionisio of Crispa and Fortunato Acuna of Toyota were ejected by the referees late in the torrid match and organizers are meeting today to decide whether to fine or suspend the players or impose both penalties.

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.

Crispa, Toyota fined P5,000 (April 21, 1977)

PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto fined Crispa and Toyota P5,000 each for their post-game rumble in the opener of the 1977 PBA season, an incident that prompted Metrocom officials to arrest players from both teams.

Crispa, Toyota fined P5,000

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Friday April 22, 1977

Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Leo Prieto fined Toyota and Crispa P5,000 each yesterday for their players' involvement in last Sunday's post-game rumble at the Araneta Coliseum.

PBA legal counsel Rodrigo Salud said the fines are appealable within 72 hours.

Toyota coach Dante Silverio was slapped a fine of P1,000 after he was found guilty of cussing a referee following a technical foul he got from referee Estefanio Bernos in the dying seconds of the Toyota-Crispa match Sunday.

Arnaiz arrested after detention (April 19, 1977)

Players of Crispa and Toyota were released after spending a night in detention, but Francis Arnaiz was arrested after a separate incident involving him and Rudy Hines in a Toyota-U-Tex game at the Araneta Coliseum.

Another PBA row: Toyota cager arrested

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday April 20, 1977

Toyota beat Universal Textiles, 121-115, in the PBA first conference at the Araneta Coliseum. But the real story happened after the game.

Toyota's Francis Arnaiz, fresh from a one-night stint as a detainee at the PC stockade in Fort Bonifacio, was picked up after the game on orders of Brig. Gen. Prospero Olivas, Metrocom commander, for figuring in a commotion with Wrangler Rudolf Hines during the match.

Arnaiz, who keyed Toyota's first win in two games by scoring four of the last eight points of Toyota, including the go-ahead charities with a minute to go, was booked anew for violating conditions for his temporary release.

Crispa, Toyota players detained (April 18, 1977)

Players of Crispa and Toyota were detained by the Metrocom for their involvement in a postgame brawl that marred the start of the 1977 PBA season at the Araneta Coliseum.

All Crispa, Toyota cagers are detained

By Al Mendoza

Bulletin Today

Tuesday, April 19, 1977

The Metrocom placed under indefinite detention yesterday 21 Crispa and Toyota players who figured in a post-game riot at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday that left scores injured.

Arrested and now detained at Fort Bonifacio are:

Francis Arnaiz, Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Virgilio Cortez, Jesus Sta. Maria, Oscar Rocha, Aurelio Clarino, Rodolfo Segura, all from Toyota.

Philip Cezar, Alberto Guidaben, Rey Franco, Gregorio Dionisio, Cristino Calilan, Rey Pages, David Cezar, Armando Torres, Rodolfo Soriano, Fortunato Co, Jr., Tito Varela, Bernard Fabiosa, Alfredo Hubalde, all from Crispa.

Still being sought at presstime were Orlando Bauzon and Fortunato Acuna, also from Toyota. Metrocom authorities said they expected the two to give themselves up shortly.

Jaworski, Fabiosa banned 3 games (Nov. 2, 1976)

Robert Jaworski and Bernie Fabiosa were suspended three games each for their punching incident in their 1976 PBA Second Conference semifinal match.

Toyota edges U-Tex

Crispa routs Royal for triple tie; Jaworski, Fabiosa banned 3 games

By Ding Marcelo

Bulletin Today

Published Wednesday November 3, 1976

Toyota survived immense pressure of a scorching U-Tex rally to prevail, 96-93, in a classic duel that dwarfed Crispa's easy 128-100 win over Royal Tru-Orange in the semifinal round of the PBA second conference at the Araneta Coliseum.

Crispa and Toyota's victories threw the race for the two final slots wide open among the Denims, the Comets and the Wranglers. The three teams now have an identical 2-1 record with Royal Tru-Orange bringing up the rear with three straight losses.

The Comets broke a tight, pulsating game in the last quarter to led 84-76 from a 70-74 deficit and was leading 94-86 going into the last two minutes and 30 seconds when U-Tex uncorked a blistering rally.

Cezar banned three games (July 2, 1976)

Philip Cezar was suspended for the first three games of the best-of-five series for the 1976 PBA All-Filipino title for punching Ramon Fernandez in the Crispa-Toyota semifinal game.

Cezar gets 3-game ban, P500-fine

Bulletin Today
Published Saturday July 3, 1976

Crispa ace center Philip Cezar was suspended for three playing days and fined P500 yesterday as the Philippine Basketball Association, acting in consultation with the Games and Amusements Board, acted swiftly on the punching incident involving Cezar and Comet Ramon Fernandez during the other night’s Crispa-Toyota game.

The PBA, through commissioner Leo Prieto, meted out the punishment after watching the video tape of the game and hearing the sides of the two players who confronted each other at the commissioner’s office.

Also present were representatives from the GAB.

The suspension means Cezar will not be able to play for his team in the first three games of the best-of-five series for the All-Filipino PBA championship which begins tomorrow.

8 cagers in ‘basketbrawl’ are punished (Dec. 17, 1975)

Oscar Rocha, Big Boy Reynoso and Philip Cezar were given lengthy suspensions by PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto for their participation in a pair of brawls that happened in Game 5 of the 1975 All-Philippine Championship.

8 PBA cagers in ‘basketbrawl’ are punished

By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Thursday December 18, 1975

Two players from Toyota and one from Crispa were fined P1,000 each and suspended from four and one-half to nine months yesterday while five others drew various fines in wide-ranging punitive action by the Philippine Basketball Association following the tumultuous Crispa-Toyota title match last Sunday.

The punishments were the severest ever meted out by the association since its foundation almost a year ago. PBA Commissioner Leo Prieto expressed the hope that the players, as well as their managers and coaches, would come to their senses and avert a repetition of that riotous evening “for the good of the sport.”

Ramos warns PBA; Crispa, Toyota fined P10,000 each (Dec. 16, 1975)

Philippine Constabulary Chief Fidel Ramos warned the PBA that criminal charges will be filed against players who will take part in violence similar to the Crispa-Toyota brawls that marred the final game of the 1975 PBA All-Philippine Championship.

PBA gets Ramos warning
Crispa, Toyota fined P10,000 each

By Ding Marcelo
Bulletin Today
Published Wednesday December 17, 1975

Maj. Gen. Fidel Ramos, chief of Constabulary and director-general of the national integrated police, warned yesterday that criminal proceedings will be filed against those found responsible for any repetition of the violence that occurred in the recent Crispa-Toyota basketball matches.

The general issued the warning in a letter to Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Leo Prieto in the wake of the public outcry raised against the fighting that marred the last championship series.

Prieto slapped yesterday a fine of P10,000 each on the Crispa and Toyota teams for failure of their managers and coaches to control their players during the championship game.

Costly forfeiture for Crispa

Crispa was fined a total of P82,000 for forfeiting the fourth game of the 1975 PBA Second Conference finals against Toyota. The Redmanizers opted not to play over the selection of referees during the championship series.

COSTLY FORFEITURE
Crispa fined P82,000

By Artemio Engracia Jr.
Philippines Daily Express
Published Friday November 28, 1975

CRISPA WAS fined a total of P82,000 for forfeiting the fourth game of the Philippine Basketball Association’s second conference championship series against Toyota, it was learned yesterday from sources close to PBA commissioner Leo Prieto.

The fine, which was P32,000 more than the original amount set by the commissioner and approved by the PBA board of governors, included the amount lost by television and the two other teams playing in the series.

A case of misunderstanding (1975 PBA Second Conference Finals)

Crispa team manager Danny Floro said the decision to award Toyota the 1975 PBA Second Conference title by forfeiture was caused by misunderstanding between him and the league’s board of governors, even as Toyota coach Dante Silverio expressed confidence of his team winning the series had Game 4 went on as scheduled.

‘Twas a case of misunderstanding, says Danny Floro

Philippines Daily Express
Published Sunday, November 23, 1975

CRISPA was set to request the Philippine Basketball Association to postpone for Sunday its scheduled fourth game against Toyota, but the PBA learned this too late as signals got crossed between the PBA board of governors and Crispa manager Danny Floro last Friday.

This was the explanation of Floro yesterday even as he announced that the Redmanizers will definitely play in the third conference scheduled Nov. 30-Dec. 18 under prevailing rules and regulations to scotch reports that his team was pulling out of the association.

Punches and suspensions (1975 PBA Second Conference finals)

A preview of Game 2 of the 1975 PBA Second Conference finals by the Daily Express described the aftermath of Toyota’s riot-marred victory in the series opener.

Crispa tries to settle score vs. Toyota today

The Philippine Daily Express
Published Tuesday November 18, 1975

Robert Jaworski of Toyota and Rodolfo Soriano are doubtful starters as the Comets and the Redmanizers resume today their explosive best-of-five series for the Philippine Basketball Association’s second conference championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

With Ramon Fernandez out of the series with a broken nose suffered in their first game last Sunday which Toyota won, 98-96, the Comets go into the 7:45 p.m. contest with the Redmanizers slight underdogs anew.

Oscar Rocha Suspended

Toyota's Oscar Rocha was regarded as one of the PBA's top enforcers. Rocha was given a one-month suspension in 1975 for punching Bernie Fabiosa in the league's first-ever Crispa-Toyota match.

One-month suspension, P 500-fine for Rocha
PBA also fines Fabiosa, Reynoso

Bulletin Today
Published Tuesday May 13, 1975

Toyota's Oscar Rocha was suspended for one month and fined P500 by the Philippine Basketball Association for punching Crispa's Bernard Fabiosa during last Saturday's Crispa-Toyota match while two others, including Fabiosa, were similarly fined for various offenses committed during the same contest.

The disciplinary measures were announced by PBA commissioner Leo Prieto yesterday as the association firmly set the tone on the courses of action it would take in dealing with misbehaving players on the court.

Fabiosa, the spitfirish Crispa sentinel, was slapped P50 fine for throwing the ball at Cristino Reynoso while Reynoso himself drew a P25 fine for making dirty hand signs.