Bits and Trivia: Toyota's 5 Greatest Imports

Article originally posted by Jay P. Mercado in Sports Potpourri last April 2020.

Bubbling Under: John Irving (1977 Open and Invitational Conferences champion)

5.  Byron "Snake" Jones (two championships)

Jones first played in the PBA in the pioneer conference when the league allowed the teams to be reinforced by imports in the All Filipino. Only a few teams availed of the privilege - Mariwasa brought in Israel "Cisco" Oliver, U/Tex with Charlie Walker, and Toyota with Jones. Jones' presence was more than enough to give the Comets the conference crown, upending Crispa 3-1 in their best of 5 series.

Jones was extremely prolific anywhere from the perimeter, converting medium range jumpers and snaring rebounds to jumpstart Toyota's vaunted transition game. He continued his dominance in the second conference, steering Toyota to a back-to-back championship at the expense of Crispa once more. This time around, Jones proved his overall worth, averaging 20 ppg, more than the combined scoring of Crispa's import pair of Pete Crotty and Johnny Burks who can only muster 18.33 collectively. Jones was the side A of Toyota's pair of reinforcements as Stan "Sweet" Cherry merely averaged less than 6ppg in the finals. A fifth round pick of the Boston Celtics in the 1973 NBA Draft, the 6'8 southpaw was particularly strong on the left side as the Redmanizers couldn't find a defensive antidote against him. He played on for 3 more conferences for the Silverio franchise, averaging 16.9 in 1975 and 19.7 the year after, but failed to win a title again for the team. Jones' memorable performance with Toyota was the reason why other PBA teams hired his services - U/Tex in 1977 and 1978 (including their first title in the 1978 Open), Honda Hagibis in 1980, and Crispa in 1980 and 1981.

Byron Jones grabs the rebound off Philip Cezar (photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page) 

4.  Donnie Ray Koonce (two championships)

The Toyota Silver Corollas started the 1982 season on a high note, defeating Crispa in the second game of the opening twinbill, 111-110. Since the team failed to reach the Finals in the previous year's reinforced conference, they were allowed to suit up a 6'3 import while Crispa and U/Tex were forced to field imports no taller than 6'1. Arnold Dugger was Coach Ed Ocampo's original pick, but after 6 games, he was replaced by a 22-year old jewel from North Carolina named Donnie Ray Koonce. Koonce, who earlier was drafted in the 4th round by the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA Draft, turned out to be the do-it-all import that the team was looking for. His ability to play 4 positions was proof of his overall versatility and skills, and it was evident when they swept YCO/Tanduay in the quarterfinals and a 3-2 series victory over their arch rivals in the semifinals to set up a showdown against the Norman Black-powered San Miguel Beermen.

The two teams duked it out in their Best of 7 series, ultimately won by Toyota, 4-3. Koonce topscored for the Silver Corollas in 3 of those 7 games, but none mattered more than the 13 of his 27 made in the 4th quarter of Game 7 that gave them the championship, 101-95. Koonce played in the Asian Invitationals and the Open Conference, teaming up with Andy Fields in the last conference as they won their second title for the season, sweeping Gilbey's Gin, 3-0. Koonce again proved to be the pivotal player in the Finals, scoring 31 in the second game and leading a fiery rally in the second quarter of Game 3. He was later named the conference's Best Import. He ended his Toyota campaign with a team high 26.37 ppg average in 62 games. It wasn't a surprise to see DRK come back and play for SMB in the 1983 season and for Alaska in 1986.

      Donnie Ray Koonce leaps high for a massive dunk (photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page)

3.  Bruce "Sky" King (three championships)

Toyota's longest resident import, King played for the Tamaraws from 1977 to 1980, a total of 8 conferences, and won three. King was the prototype stretch 4, when the term was non-existent back then. He was extremely prolific, and once scored 72 points for the team in a game back in 1977, making most of his baskets from the perimeter and later, beyond the three point line when this rule took effect in 1980. It was also his ability to knock down those jumpers that made him a defensive nightmare for the opposing teams as it forced the interior to open up and allow the other bigs to score. Which was why whenever King played simultaneously with another import during the game, Toyota would be the odds-on favorites. From 1977 to 1979, King played with John Irving, Carl Terry and Andy Fields and won all the Invitational Conferences. In 1980, they placed a close second behind guest team Nicholas Stoodley, losing in a competitive Best of 3 series.

Coach Dante Silverio made sure that King was partnered with a dominant interior player to complement each other's games. The former University of Iowa standout was also a perfect fit for Toyota's run-and-gun game, as King would normally be a recipient in the break from the outlet passes of his teammates. Up to 1980, this former Hawkeye was the longest serving import for one particular team, a testament to his valuable contribution to the franchise. Curiously, fans will remember King most for his unique jersey number - he remains to be the only player in the PBA to don a 3-digit jersey - 111 - in the 1979 season. Previous to that, he used to wear #11 but when Arnie Tuadles came in and used that number, King opted for 111. He ended his PBA career in 1980 wearing jersey #43. He will be enshrined as perhaps Toyota's most memorable import of all time because of longevity and the 3 titles given to the franchise. King passed away a few years ago from a heart attack.

2.  Carl Terry (one championship)

Not too many fans would remember the blizzard named Carlos Fernando Terry (how teammate Abe King calls him) when he came in as a replacement for the ineffective TJ Robinson in the middle of the 1978 Open Conference. Coach Dante Silverio took a huge risk as he gave up his tallest import ever, the 6'11 Robinson, for his shortest import ever, the 6'5 Terry, to partner with King. Turned out to be a providential and sage move as Terry ran amuck as a dominant force inside, all 210 pounds of him. Terry more than made up for his lack of ceiling with his brute force, his incredible agility, his nose for the ball when getting rebounds, and his gazelle-like speed when completing the transition.

Terry astonished everyone as he was regarded at that time as perhaps the greatest import to have played in the PBA in its first 4 seasons. He's a Winston-Salem State alumnus, and was drafted in the 5th round by the Los Angeles Lakers, although he didn't get to wear the purple and gold jersey. Instead, he took his act to the Philippines and created a storm. Terry was so good that in one game against the Crispa Redmanizers, relief slotman Jimmy Javier tore off Terry's #42 jersey in his vain effort to stop Terry from grabbing the rebound. Terry may have arrived a little late in replacing Robinson, as Crispa and U/Tex snatched the two finals seats, later won by the Wranglers. But Terry led the Tamaraws to a convincing 3-1 Finals series victory against the Tanduay Esquires, topscoring in Games 3 and 4 with 41 and 36, respectively. It was unfortunate that Terry never came back to play for Toyota or for any other team after as he inked a contract to play for the Washington Bullets in 1980, averaging 7.2 points, 4.5 boards, 2.7 dimes and 1.0 steal per game for the defending runners-up. Terry passed away in 1989 at 32 years old from a car accident.

Carl Terry's famous ripped jersey courtesy of Jimmy Javier (photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page)

1.  Andy Fields (three championships)

PBA fans were surprised to learn Toyota was not bringing back John, "Dr. I, Irving or Carl Terry for the 1979 Open Conference to tandem with "Sky" King as part of their title retention campaign. Instead, they brought in a little-known, albeit, former playoff MVP of Cheyney State in the NCAA Division II. Fields, barely 22 years old that time, was actually drafted in the 2nd round of the 1979 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers but failed to secure a contract, paving the way for his Philippine stint. It turned out quite eventful, giving his mother team 3 championships and winning the first Best Import Award given out in the 1981 season.

Fields was the prototype big man for the PBA. He was a lean and muscular 200 lbs, fitted in his 6'9 frame. A cerebral and clutch player, Fields was equally athletic and skillful, but was also one of the baddest shotblockers ever. To date, he remains the league's record holder for most blocks in a game with 13 in a phenomenal triple double performance in an elimination game against Crispa back in 1981. And because he was equally a phenomenal rebounder, posting a PBA career average of 15.5 boards per game, he was the catalyst of Toyota's transition with his pinpoint baseball passes to the streaking Arnie Tuadles, Francis Arnaiz, Abe King or even Bruce King for the easy lay-in or dunk. Fields gave Toyota 3 championships, none more important than the 1981 Open Conference when he was the primary figure when they beat their arch rivals in the Finals - the last championship series between the two protagonists. He was supposed to come back and play for ex-teammate and now Ginebra playing coach Robert Jaworski in the 1985 Open Conference but had a previous commitment for another team. He will be remembered as the greatest defensive player ever to play in the PBA as well as the gold standard for all teams when recruiting tall imports. More importantly, he will be remembered as the greatest import ever to play for the Silverio franchise.

Andy Fields avoiding the defense of Philip Cezar (photo c/o Toyota Tamaraws FB page)