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Published December 20, 2020, 9:50 PM
One of the most controversial moments in the history of Philippine basketball happened on Dec. 19, 1971 when Robert Jaworski and Meralco teammate Big Boy Reynoso hit two referees during their MICAA game against Crispa.
The incident came during the second half of their MICAA All-Filipino match when Jaworski and Reynoso attacked referees Eriberto Cruz and Jose Obias, much to the astonishment of the crowd inside the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Two days later, The Basketball Association of the Philippines slapped a lifetime ban on both Jaworski and Reynoso but the punishment was lifted in 1973.
The following is a story of the incident which landed on the front page of the Manila Bulletin on Dec. 20, 1971.