PBA: Jaworski’s Last Game with Toyota

PBA: Jaworski’s Last Game with Toyota

Manila, Philippines – Back in October 31, 1983, Toyota and Tanduay were scheduled to meet in a lone match to determine who would book the last quarterfinals seat of the PBA Open Conference.

That game proved to be the last time fans would see Toyota as a team in an actual PBA conference, a historic game that many may not actually recall.

The Toyota Silver Coronas were the defending champions but had their backs against the wall against a hungry Tanduay squad.

The Silver Coronas, then coached by Ed Ocampo, had Andrew Fields and Ralph Brewster as their reinforcements. However, the two giants could not play simultaneously with Fields playing more than Brewster.

For that conference, Tanduay had Francois Wise (6-foot-5) and 7-foot (unsure though if he was really over 7-feet) George Melton and were mentored by former senator Freddie Webb.

Toyota had one of the best fives that could be assembled. Led by Sonny Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez, Toyota also had Francis “Mr. Clutch” Arnaiz, Abe “The King of the Boards” King and the late Arnie Tuadles.

Backing up Wise and Melton were Miguel Bilbao, hotshot Rey Lazaro, Abet Gutierrez and JB Yango a formidable pack that seemed to be overmatched when compared to the Silver Coronas.

In this type of a game, the only way that Tanduay could pull through is to keep it close and hope for the best. And in the end, that is exactly what happened.

With Toyota dominating the match for most parts of the duel, Tanduay kept it close and clawed back to regain the upper hand at the right moment.

Abet Gutierrez and Francois Wise accounted for 6 unanswered points to seize the lead in the last 30 seconds or so, 109-108. Toyota was able to come within one thanks to a made charity by Fields in the last 28 seconds but Bilbao’s two charities proved to be enough to give Tanduay some cushion.

Bilbao calmly sank both charities to make it 111-109. Fields again made a charity after a three-second defensive alignment violation committed by JB Yango but a key defensive ploy by Tanduay in the last 8 seconds proved to be Toyota’s downfall.

Bilbao suggested the final defensive strategy to his coach, Freddie Webb, a swarming defense that worked.

In the final 8.5 seconds, Bilbao switched to Relosa, sending Yango against Francis Arnaiz while Abet Gutierrez harassed the Big J as he was inbounding. Fernandez was able to get the pass from Jaworski and make an attempt but his jumpshot got partially deflected by Melton with Wise grabbing the leather as the buzzer sounded, Tanduay winning it- 111-110.

The loss shocked most of the fans on hand at the Araneta Coliseum as Toyota got eliminated and suffered their worst performance in nine years. It was Tanduay’s third straight win over Toyota for that conference.

Unknown to many, that would be Toyota’s last game. Toyota eventually disbanded and most of its players heading on over to the incoming Beer Hausen squad. But there were some who went to other squads.

Jaworski and Arnaiz however went to Ginebra while Loyzaga and Tuadles landed at Great Taste. Abe King went to San Miguel. (Brian Yalung with reports from Willie Caballes – Manila Bulletin, P15, 10/31/83)

box scores of that game

Tanduay 111 – Wise 41, Gutierrez 16, Melton 15, Lazaro 11, Bilbao 8, Sanchez 8, Dela Rosa 4, Yango 4, Lim 4, Capacio 0, Marquez 0

Toyota 110 – Fields 20, Jaworski 19, Arnaiz 16, Fernandez 15, Legaspi 13, Tuadles 13, Relosa 10, King 3, Brewster 2

Quarterscores: 27-all, 49-53, 80-90, 111-110