Sports Weekly Magazine
April 14-21, 1978
The biggest news in this coming PBA All Filipino is Toyota’s acquisition of PBA’s celebrated number one forward, Danny Florencio. The former Seven-Up Uncola, in an earlier article, admitted his desire to be and to play with a champion ballclub.
By champion ballclub, Florencio meant Toyota or Crispa or U/Tex or Tanduay. For one sure thing though, he cannot go back to U/Tex where he had a stormy stint, nor Crispa, where he was sacked in 1972. Nor with Tanduay which he left during the happier amateur days. So, it is Toyota straight. And there couldn’t be a better choice. Dante’s squad is in dire need of a first-rate forward who can match skill with Jaworski, Arnaiz and Fernandez. A forward who is seasoned, a veteran who can deliver the points if he wants to regardless of the situation.
Jaworski and Florencio could there be a better combination?
Toyota’s acquisition of Florencio will test anew the stiff rivalry of the Crispa and Toyota teams, and will gauge the duo’s drawing power at the box office.
The fans who were denied of a dream contest between Toyota and Crispa last All-Filipino, where Baby Dalupan’s boys faced Mariwasa for the championship, might be in for another thriller, Crispa having bolstered its slot with returnee Philip Cezar and newcomer Jimmy Javier. Bogs Adornado and Rudy Soriano however are still in the injured list.
Crispa’s old reliables Atoy Co, Abet Guidaben, Bernard Fabiosa, Freddie Hubalde, Joy Dionisio, Tito Varela, Cris Calilan, Bong Dela Cruz, Rey Franco, Rey Pages, and Mando Torres will still be around.
Toyota, on the other hand, aside from Jaworski, Florencio, Arnaiz and Fernandez, have sophomores Abe King, Emer Legaspi, Nick Bulaong, Ambo Javier and Fort Acuña, Rino Salazar, Jess Sta. Maria and Oscar Rocha.
Not to be outdone are perennial threats U/Tex and Tanduay. U/Tex, fresh from an invitational tournament in Hongkong, has acquired two of the best amateur players in Etok Lobo and Anthony Dasalla.
Aside from its prized catch, U/Tex still has Lim Eng Beng, Boy Kutch, Ricky Pineda, Jimmy Noblezada, Romy Cabading, Rudolf Hines, Ed Camus, Roy Deles, Boy Mora and the comebacking Romeo Frank.
Tanduay has the same team, Freddie Webb, Rene Canent, Joy Cleofas, Abet Gutierrez, Dave Supnet, Jimmy Taguines, Mike Bilbao, Ace Moreno, Ric Catacutan, Vic Sanchez and Bert Dela Rosa.
Newcomers to grace Tanduay’s team this season is top amateur player Jimmy Manansala, Abe Monzon and Ver Santos.
Honda, with new coach Alberto Reynoso, formerly the country’s number one center, is the team to watch this season. It has remained intact except for some old names recruited from the other teams like Orly Bauzon, Tino Reynoso and Caloy Rodriguez.
Retained in the team are Epoy Alcantara, Mark Arriola, Manny Chan, Luke Dacula, Mariano Figuracion, Jun Papa, Jesse Sullano, Mario Marasigan, Ompong Segura, Gil Cortez, and Renan Pablo.
It has lost its big difference, Billy Robinson, who is back in the United States.
Presto came up with a tentative list of Manny Paner, Ernesto Morales, Johnny Revilla, Danilo Pribhdas, Lory Tolentino, Dante Ritualo, Bien Alenton, Danny Basilan and Boy Clariño.
Royal Tru Orange has the most number of rookies in the team. The squad is beefed up by former amateurs Leo Paguntalan, Marlowe Jacutin, Paul Velasco, Tony Torrente, Richard dela Peña and Rudy Lalota.
Its maintays are Yoyong Martirez, Molet Pineda, Norbie Rivera, Max Baguio and Marte Samson.
Botchok Delos Santos is another addition to the team.
Seven-Up’s lineup reads Jaime Mariano, Roberto Salonga, Jacinto Chua, Alfredo Enriquez, Romulo Palijo, Ernesto de Leon, Lawrence Mumar, Orlando delos Santos, Jaime Otazu, Renato Sidamon, and, hold your breath, Estoy Estrada!
Yesiree, the former hotshot of Tru Orange and considered one of the best pointmakers in the PBA, has joined Seven-Up to fill in the gap vacated by Danny Florencio.
That’s the PBA’s rigodon de onor.
“The All Filipino title is a prestigious one. We always try hard in this conference,” said Coach Baby Dalupan.
“I think we will be better off this year. My boys are physically fit and I am confident we will make it this time,” Coach Dante Silverio said with all optimism.
Words indeed from mentors of PBA’s leading ballclubs which are expected to clash anew and resume rivalry as to who’s who in the PBA.
But then, don’t count U/Tex out. And Tanduay, too. They could play the bride’s role this year, who knows?
On Sunday, after the opening ceremonies, Toyota will face Tanduay while U/Tex test their wares against defending champion, Crispa.
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