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: Dalupan to coach Crispa vs Toyota (May 23, 2003)

Legendary coach Baby Dalupan confirmed his participation in the Crispa-Toyota reunion after initially begging off due to a family gathering.

Dalupan to coach Crispa vs Toyota

By Dennis U. Eroa

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Published Saturday May 24, 2003

IT’S on with the reunion.

Coach Baby Dalupan, who had begged off to attend a family affair, yesterday confirmed during the weekly SCOOP Forum at the Kamayan West his willingness to coach Crispa in its much-awaited reunion against Toyota on May 30 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Boomy Guerrero, Dalupan’s grandson, first called SCOOP president Eddie Alinea to say his grandfather would like to coach the Redmanizers.

Later, it was Dalupan himself, owner of 13 PBA titles, who made an overseas call to Alinea to confirm his attendance.

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 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?”