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]
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| Dates | July 6–20, 2007 | |||||||||
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| MVP | Willie Miller | |||||||||
| Television | ABC | |||||||||
| Announcers | See broadcast notes | |||||||||
| Radio network | Sports Radio 918 | |||||||||
| Announcers | See broadcast notes | |||||||||
Road to the finals
edit| 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
edit| 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
editJuly 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 | |
Game 2
editJuly 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 | |
Game 3
editJuly 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 | |
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
editJuly 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 | |
Willie Miller, who before the game just become the seventh player in league history to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy more than once, scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, 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
editJuly 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 | |
Game 6
editJuly 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 | |
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
editJuly 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 | ||
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.
| 2007 Fiesta Conference Champions |
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Alaska Aces 12th title |
Rosters
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Broadcast notes
editThe 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
edit- Best Player of the Conference: Mark Cardona (Talk 'N Text)
- Best Import of the Conference: Rossel Ellis (Alaska)
- Finals Most Valuable Player: Willie Miller (Alaska)
References
edit- ^ "Aces, Pals begin title quest in Fiesta Cup". The Manila Times.