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(Reddy Kilowatts, Robert Jaworski and Alberto Reynoso gang up on fallen referee Jose Obias midway through the second half of a December 19, 1971 MICAA game at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.)
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Disgusted with the alleged biased officiating against the Reddy Kilowatts in an elimination-round MICAA All-Filipino game with the powerhouse Crispa Floro Redmanizers, Meralco stars Jaworski and Reynoso took matters into their own hands to kick and punch whistletooters Jose (Joe) Obias and Dr. Edilberto "Ting" Cruz before an overflowing crowd at the cool-turned-hot Rizal Memorial Coliseum midway through the infamous game that was eventually called off.


Following the assault, Jaworski and Reynoso were meted a lifetime ban by the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), then the basketball-governing body in the country, and the MICAA. Or so it seemed.


The violent skirmish happened with the game over 28 minutes gone and Crispa ahead, 65-50. It seemed that the Reddy Kilowatts were getting the shorter end of the officiating. All hell broke loose when a Meralco player was whistled a charging foul by Obias off Crispa's big man Rudolf Kutch.


The burly Reynoso furiously chased Obias in anger over the perceived questionable call, issuing a running kick that barely missed. An equally enraged Jaworski went after a running Obias and floored the latter with a right-straight punch in front of the Meralco bench before the two ganged up on the fallen Obias.

Jaworski and Reynoso, of course, were subsequently ejected from the game that was never completed. Meralco conceded the game a day later.


Then came the punitive action from the MICAA and the BAP. The principal instigators of the mauling, Jaworski, and Reynoso, expectedly bore the brunt of the punishment.


The MICAA meted a two-year ban on the two but the BAP raised the ante by slapping a lifetime ban against the pair.


Reddy Kilowatt, the coach's son Lawrence "Larry" Mumar, and the younger brother of Big Boy, Cristino Reynoso, were given lighter penalties for taking part in the melee.


Crispa went on to beat the San Miguel Braves for the MICAA All-Filipino title that season.


A month before the incident, from October 30 to November 10, Jaworski and Reynoso had suited for the Philippine National Team in the 1971 Asian Basketball Confederation tournament in Tokyo, Japan, where the RP team, led by Jaworski, finished second to the host nation but qualified for the 1972 Munich Olympics just the same.


What was to be a lifetime ban on Jaworski and Reynoso lasted only for 13.5 months as it turned out. Thanks to the intercession of then-presidential assistant Guillermo de Vega, the BAP lifted the ban in February 1973 and, after some resistance, the MICAA followed suit thereafter.


Jaworski and Reynoso merrily continued with their intertwined roundball careers. In 1973, the duo picked up the pieces to spearhead the newly-organized Komatsu Komets and tag along Francis Arnaiz, Cristino Reynoso, and Orlando Bauzon from the remnants of the disgraced Meralco club that quietly disbanded after the mauling incident.


The Delta Motors Corporation-owned Komets initially took part in the National Open (Seniors) and the Fred Elizalde-organized Panamin competitions. Later, they were renamed the Toyota Comets in the MICAA Reinforced (Open) tournament, which the Comets eventually won, 2-1, in the best-of-three finals against the Concepcion Industries Motorolas, in their maiden participation in the commercial loop.

December 19, 1971: basketball players Jaworski and Reynoso assaulted referees for alleged biased officiating