2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals

2007 PBA Fiesta Conference finals

Team Coach Wins Alaska Aces Tim Cone 4 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Derrick Pumaren 3
Dates	July 6–20, 2007
MVP	Willie Miller
Television	ABC
Announcers	See broadcast notes
Radio network	Sports Radio 918
Announcers	See broadcast notes
PBA Fiesta Conference finals chronology
<  2005–06 2008  >
PBA finals chronology
<  2006–07 Philippine 2007–08 Philippine  >

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]

Road to the finals

Main article: 2007 PBA Fiesta Conference

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

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

ABC

July 6 7:30 P.M.

boxscore

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

ABC

July 8 6:30 P.M.

boxscore

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

ABC

July 11 7:30 P.M.

boxscore

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

ABC

July 13 7:30 P.M.

boxscore

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

Source: ^[3]

ABC

July 15 6:30 p.m.

boxscore

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

Source: ^[3]

ABC

July 18 7:05 p.m.

boxscore

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

ABC

July 20 7:05 P.M.

boxscore

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

Alaska Aces roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

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

Head coach Tim Cone (James Madison) Assistant(s) Joel Banal (Mapúa) Dickie Bachmann (De La Salle) Jojo Lastimosa (Ateneo) Luigi Trillo (De La Salle) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (I) Import (R) Rookie Injured

Light

Dark

Alternate

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals roster

• v
• t
• e

Players

Coaches

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

Head coach Derrick Pumaren (UE) Assistant(s) Bong Ramos (Mapúa) Tonichi Yturri (De La Salle) Agustin Tiongco Bong Ravena (UE) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (I) Import (R) Rookie (N) Did not play due to NT commitment Injured

Light

Dark

Broadcast notes

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

• 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

1. "Aces, Pals begin title quest in Fiesta Cup". The Manila Times.
2. Henson, Joaquin M. "Another MVP celebration". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
3. "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.

External links

• PBA official website