2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals

The 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals was the best-of-7 championship series of the 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The series was a best-of-seven affair and was the 93rd championship disputed in the league.[1]

2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals
TeamCoachWins
Alaska Aces Tim Cone 4
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Derrick Pumaren 3
DatesJuly 6–20, 2007
MVPWillie Miller
TelevisionABC
AnnouncersSee broadcast notes
Radio networkSports Radio 918
AnnouncersSee broadcast notes
PBA Fiesta Conference finals chronology
2008 >
PBA finals chronology

Road to the finals

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Alaska Talk 'N Text
Finished 12–6 (.667): 2nd Elimination round Finished 11–7 (.611): 4th
Bye Wildcard phase Def. Air21, 2-1 (QF)
Quarterfinals
Def. San Miguel, 4–2 Semifinals Def. Red Bull, 4–2

Series scoring summary

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Team Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Wins
Alaska 113 113 87 86 104 121 99 4
Talk 'N Text 85 120 95 82 107 110 96 3
Venue Araneta Araneta Araneta Araneta Araneta Araneta Cuneta

Game 1

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July 6
7:30 P.M.
Alaska Aces 113, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 85
Scoring by quarter: 16–28, 29–16, 37–19, 31–22
Pts: Cortez, Ellis 22
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 13
Asts: Rossel Ellis 10
Pts: James Sullinger 25
Rebs: James Sullinger 12
Asts: Mark Cardona 3
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Cruz, Herrera, Ferrer

Game 2

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July 8
6:30 P.M.
Alaska Aces 113, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 120
Scoring by quarter: 28–30, 25–30, 31–33, 29–27
Pts: Rossel Ellis 40
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 18
Asts: Rossel Ellis 7
Pts: Mark Cardona 30
Rebs: Yancy de Ocampo 9
Asts: Mark Cardona 5
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Calungcaguin, Aldaba, Ferrer

Game 3

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July 11
7:30 P.M.
Alaska Aces 87, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 95
Scoring by quarter: 30–15, 26–25, 12–27, 19–28
Pts: Willie Miller 29
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 13
Asts: Ellis, Hugnatan 3
Pts: James Sullinger 30
Rebs: James Sullinger 15
Asts: James Sullinger 8
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Montiel, Herrera, Canizares

The Phone Pals trailed by 23 points in the second quarter and then launched an amazing comeback for a 2-1 lead in the series. Mark Cardona, named best player of the conference earlier, and Felix Belano, once again hit the big baskets for Talk 'N Text, which went down, 20-43, midway in the second quarter and went ahead 75-74, midway in the fourth.

Game 4

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July 13
7:30 P.M.
Alaska Aces 86, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 82
Scoring by quarter: 21–25, 24–18, 18–23, 23–16
Pts: Willie Miller 29
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 14
Asts: Willie Miller 4
Pts: James Sullinger 26
Rebs: James Sullinger 13
Asts: Felix Belano 5
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Canizares, Aldaba, Cruz

Willie Miller, who before the game just become the seventh player in league history to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP)[2] trophy more than once, scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter,[2] eight in an 11-0 run that erased a seven-point deficit, down 73-80 with 3:57 to go, Miller took over and not only scored the points that mattered but dished out a brilliant assist to Sonny Thoss for a three-point play that capped the Alaska run and gave the Aces an 82-80 lead, 1:40 to go.

Game 5

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Source:[3]

July 15
6:30 p.m.
Alaska Aces 104, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 107
Scoring by quarter: 25–31, 20–23, 27–25, 32–28
Pts: Rossel Ellis 28
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 16
Asts: Ellis, Miller 5
Pts: James Sullinger 24
Rebs: Carey, Sullinger 8
Asts: Mark Cardona 5
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Attendance: 11,097
Referees: Quilinguen, Herrera, Montiel

Game 6

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Source:[3]

July 18
7:05 p.m.
Alaska Aces 121, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 110
Scoring by quarter: 22–34, 34–11, 38–31, 27–34
Pts: Willie Miller 37
Rebs: Rossel Ellis 16
Asts: Cortez, Ellis 8
Pts: Mark Cardona 29
Rebs: James Sullinger 9
Asts: James Sullinger 3
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
Referees: Cruz, Calungcaguin, Canizares

Willie Miller erupted for a career-high 37 points as he redeemed himself from his lackluster six-point showing in Game five. The season MVP starred in Alaska's amazing 22-0 romp in the second quarter that fuelled the Aces' charge after a sluggish start. The Phone Pals took the opening quarter at 34-22 but went scoreless in the first seven minutes of the second period. The Aces went ahead 44-34 after the fiery salvo presided over by Miller, John Ferriols and Rosell Ellis.

It was the largest run by any team in a PBA finals since Ginebra came through with a 30-0 attack against Shell in their 1991 First Conference title playoff. The Aces sustained the momentum up to the finish, with their backs against the wall, played with great resolve, leading by as many as 22 points at 98-76 with 11:08 left to play.

Game 7

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July 20
7:05 P.M.
Alaska Aces 99, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 96
Scoring by quarter: 25–26, 20–27, 25–19, 29–24
Pts: Ellis 30
Rebs: Ellis 10
Asts: Ellis 9
Pts: Sullinger 30
Rebs: Sullinger 13
Asts: Sullinger 5
Alaska wins series 4-3
Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay
Attendance: 10,040
Referees: Quilinguen, Aldaba, Calungcaguin

Willie Miller came up with two big-time plays inside the final 1:17 as the Aces broke the game's last deadlock at 94 for a 98-94 lead which help Alaska cushion the impact of five missed free throws the rest of the way. The Phone Pals came within two and had a chance to tie the game in the dying seconds but JJ Sullinger was smothered by an Alaska defense that all but snuffed Talk 'N Text's hopes. After a split by Reynel Hugnatan, a last-second attempt by Sullinger from beyond the arc rimmed out.[4][5]

2007 Fiesta Conference Champions

Alaska Aces
12th title

Rosters

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Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 1   Cortez, Mike 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) De La Salle
F 3   Belasco, Nic 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Notre Dame (MD)
G 5   Bajar, Rensy 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) San Beda
C 7   Thoss, Sonny 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) James Cook
G 9   Luanzon, Christian (R) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) UST
F 11   Laure, Eddie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Adamson
G 13   Miller, Willie 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Letran
G/F 17   Aban, Aaron 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran
F 21   Hugnatan, Reynel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Manila
G 22   Cariaso, Jeffrey (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sonoma State
C 32   Juinio, Poch 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Philippines
G 35   Dela Cruz, Tony   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) UC Irvine
G 50   Singson, Dale 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) UST
F 55   Ferriols, John 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) USJ–R
F 75   Ellis, Rosell (I) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) McNeese State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Import
  • (R) Rookie
  •   Injured
 
 
 
 
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Alternate
Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
F 0   Sullinger, JJ (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Ohio State
SF 1   Santos, Abby (R) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UP Diliman
PG 3   Alapag, Jimmy (N) 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Cal State San Bernardino
G 4   Carey, Harvey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sonoma State
F 7   Washington, Jay 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) Eckerd
G 8   Fran, Patrick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) UST
G 9   Cardona, Mark 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) De La Salle
F 12   Aldave, Jonathan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Letran
SG 14   Ritualo, Renren (N) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) De La Salle
C 18   de Ocampo, Yancy 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Saint Francis of Assisi
F/C 28   Noble, Miguel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Utica
PG 29   Billones, Egay 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 651 lb (295 kg) Centro Escolar Las Piñas
PF 33   Pablo, Victor 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Far Eastern
F 41   Allado, Don 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 225 lb (102 kg) De La Salle
PG 42   Belano, Donbel 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 178 lb (81 kg) Visayas
C 88   Taulava, Asi (N) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) BYU–Hawaii
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Import
    • (R) Rookie
    • (N) Did not play due to NT commitment
  •   Injured
 
 
 
 
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Broadcast notes

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The Associated Broadcasting Company and DZSR Sports Radio broadcast the games nationwide.

Game Play-by-play Analyst(s)
Game 1 Ed Picson Quinito Henson
Game 2 Ed Picson Jason Webb
Game 3 Mico Halili Quinito Henson
Game 4 Mico Halili Jason Webb
Game 5 Ed Picson Quinito Henson
Game 6 Mico Halili Jason Webb
Game 7 Ed Picson Quinito Henson

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "Aces, Pals begin title quest in Fiesta Cup". The Manila Times.
  2. ^ a b Henson, Joaquin M. "Another MVP celebration". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  3. ^ a b "Aces, TnT and the Game Five 'curse'". Spin.ph. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  4. ^ "PBA Fiesta: Aces fluster Phone Pals to grab title". GMA News Online. 2007-07-20. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
  5. ^ Bacnis, Justine (2024-06-18). "Bong Quinto fulfills childhood dream of being a PBA champion". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
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