Reunion: Crispa, Toyota clash (May 30, 2003)

Crispa and Toyota were bracing a slow-paced but intense encounter in their Reunion Game that kicked off the 2003 PBA All-Star Weekend at the Araneta Coliseum.

Crispa, Toyota clash tonight

Tempo

Published Friday May 30, 2003

Fortunato Co vowed to whip the Toyota Super Corollas. To this Chito Loyzaga responded they will make the Crispa Redmanizers eat their words.

Demons from the past will be resurrected at 5 p.m. today when the Philippine Basketball Association’s legendary ball clubs clash for their reunion game before a huge nostalgic crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, site of these teams’ most memorable battles.

Reunion: One match for old time's sake (May 26, 2003)

Robert Jaworski headed straight to the Cuneta Astrodome after his work at the Senate to join Toyota's preparation for the 2003 Reunion Game against rival Crispa.

Jawo: One match for old time’s sake

By Dodo Catacutan Jr.

Manila Bulletin

Published Wednesday May 28, 2003

THE FIRST time he joined the scrimmage, he threw a length-of-the-court pass which for a moment looked as if it would sail over Ed Camus’ head, but at the last moment dropped into the overweight ex-Toyota Comet’s hands right under the basket. Easy two points.

Right there, you know: Robert Jaworski’s in the house.

“I’m out of shape and out of touch, but for old time’s sake I think this will be good,” Jaworski said on Monday night, the first time he joined his fellow ex-Toyota players in practice for Friday’s highly anticipated Legends game against the Crispa Redmanizers.

Reunion: Rekindling a cage rivalry (May 19, 2003)

Players of both Crispa and Toyota were eager to show their competitive spirit less than two weeks before the Reunion Game of the two bitter rivals at the 2003 PBA All-Star Weekend.

‘Bakbakan to!’

pba.com.ph

Published Monday May 19, 2003

The commissioner jokingly called them grandfathers. But don’t let that fool you. 

If only for the way Atoy Co defined the line that separated today’s game in the Philippine Basketball Association from that of the yesteryears, the reunion match between fierce rivals Crispa and Toyota, the May 30 event is going to be more than just a collection of grumpy old fogies in tight tank tops and short shorts. 

"Ang game noon, maraming tirahan. Pag magaling ka, titirahin ka," said the Fortune Cookie, one of the league’s most celebrated perimeter gunners.

Reunion: Arnaiz can't play in reunion game (May 14, 2003)

Francis Arnaiz was forced to miss the Crispa-Toyota reunion game due to his duties working for the California state government.

Arnaiz can’t play in PBA All-Star game

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Manila Standard

Published Wednesday May 14, 2003

Francis Arnaiz, who played “Robin” to Robert Jaworski as “Batman” in the glory days of the Toyota-Crispa rivalry in the Philippine Basketball Association, has sent his regrets to Commissioner Noli Eala that he will not be able to play in the revival showdown between the two top teams of the pro league’s first decade.

The Toyota-Crispa game will be a highlight of this year’s All-Star Weekend and Arnaiz had earlier told both his bosom buddy Jaworski and Eala that he was working out in preparation for the much-awaited battle with Crispa.

Reunion: An All-Star Week like no other (May 13, 2003)

The highly-anticipated Crispa-Toyota reunion match served as a kickoff to the 2003 PBA All-Star Weekend at the Araneta Coliseum.

An All-Star Week like no other

Manila Standard

Published Tuesday May 13, 2003

The Philippine Basketball Association All-Star Week returns this year with a promise of lots of fun, thrill and excitement, a doze of nostalgia and slam-bang action on May 30 and 31 and June 1 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The country’s premier sports entertainment show is so determined to make up for the nonstaging of the All-Star spectacle last year that it is lining up a program of activities one should not miss. The annual All-Star Week wasn’t held last year with the league tied up so much with the country’s participation in the Asian Games in Busan, Korea.

There will be the usual Fans Day on May 31 and the reunion game between former fierce rivals Crispa and Toyota on the 30th.

Reunion: Jaworski to play in reunion game (May 7, 2003)

Robert Jaworski, who had set aside his familiar role as basketball's living legend to serve as senator, accepted an invitation to suit up in the 2003 legends game between Crispa and Toyota.

Jaworski to play in Crispa-Toyota All-Star reunion game

pba.com.ph

Published Wednesday May 7, 2003

For one fleeting moment, PBA fans will be treated to a nostalgic spectacle and rare chance to travel down memory lane.

Oh yes, the Living Legend promised to be there wearing his famous No. 7.

Robert Jaworski, arguably the best thing that ever happened to Philippine basketball, on Monday said yes to an invitation to play in the 2003 All-Star Reunion Game, marking the return of the man they call the "Living Legend" after more than six years in retirement.

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.

Jaworski, Arnaiz blast sale (Feb. 16, 1984)

Toyota’s stunning sale to Beer Hausen left hurt feelings among its players, particularly the backcourt tandem of Robert Jaworski and Francis Arnaiz.

JAWORSKI, ARNAIZ BLAST SALE

‘Unfair and immoral’

By Al Mendoza

Tempo

Published Friday Feb. 17, 1984

Robert Jaworski yesterday threatened to quit basketball while Francis Arnaiz branded as “highly immoral” his sale to Beer Hausen.

“I was hurt,” said Jaworski. “Most of us were not consulted about the sale. The management made a totally unfair decision when they sold out to Beer Hausen.”

Jaworski and Arnaiz, together with nine other Toyota players, were sold to Beer Hausen Tuesday in a management decision that shocked millions of basketball fans.

Toyota disbanded (Feb. 15, 1984)

Toyota team manager Jack Rodriguez announced the sale of its PBA franchise to Beer Hausen, a day after rumors of the Super Corollas' demise came out in the Valentine's Day issue of Tempo.

Corollas to Hausen

By Rey Bancod

Tempo

Published Thursday Feb. 16, 1984

Toyota, winner of nine PBA titles, formally announced yesterday the disbandment of its team.

Toyota players, led by 1982 Most Valuable Player Ramon Fernandez, have all been sold to a new league member, Shareholding Incorporated of the Lucio Tan group. The team will carry the name Beer Hausen and will be coached by veteran Bonnie Carbonell.

Toyota, however, retained its franchise and coach Ed Ocampo, who has been instructed to form another team that will participate in amateur tournaments.

Goodbye Toyota (Feb. 14, 1984)

Valentine's Day turned out to be a sour one for Toyota fans after Tempo columnist Beth Celis first reported the team's decision to disband before the start of the 1984 PBA season despite a denial from team manager Jack Rodriguez.

Goodbye Toyota

By Beth Celis

Tempo

Published Tuesday Feb. 14, 1984

Toyota is out of the All-Filipino conference of the Philippine Basketball Association. And, for all intents and purposes, Toyota won’t be around the rest of the pro season.

A confidential source, who requested anonymity, yesterday, confirmed a Tempo report that Toyota is disbanding this year due to the hard times.

“It is definite. Management has made the decision to disband the team,” the source said. “It is irrevocable.”

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.

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.