PBA Fiesta Conference
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The PBA Fiesta Conference is a tournament held during a Philippine Basketball Association season. Each PBA team is allowed to hire a single foreign player, with maximum height limitations set by the league, to play for the said tournament.
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[edit] History
Prior to the formation of the said conference, the league had two import-laced conferences known as the PBA Commissioner's Cup (with an import height-limit of 6-8), and the PBA Governor's Cup (with an import height-limit of 6-4). However, in 2003, the two conferences were scrapped and was replaced with an Invitational tournament, with an All-Filipino local squad along with foreign teams) and an import-laced Reinforced Conference.
But, in 2004, the league changed its calendar from a calendar year to a fiscal year. As a preparation for the new format, the tournament was institutionalized in 2004 as a transitional tournament. The first Fiesta Conference was played from February-July 2004, which was won by the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
In 2005, the league billed the Reinforced Conference as the Fiesta Conference, with a new rule of allowing teams to allow imports with unlimited height limit. The San Miguel Beermen defeated the Talk N' Text Phone Pals to win the title. Ironically, the 2004 and 2005 tournaments were held during the same 2004-2005 season.
A season later, the league moved the Fiesta Conference during its initial conference, this time the height limit rule on imports were reinstated. Red Bull Barako won the third edition of the Fiesta Cup, defeating the Purefoods Chunkee Giants in six games.
For the 2006-07 PBA season, the league is planning on moving the Fiesta Conference to March, while putting the Philippine Cup as its opening tournament for the said season.
[edit] Fiesta Conference Champions
| Year | Winning Team | Losing Team | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Barangay Ginebra | Red Bull | 3-1 |
| 2005 Details |
San Miguel | Talk N' Text | 4-1 |
| 2005-06 Details |
Red Bull | Purefoods | 4-2 |
[edit] Fiesta Conference Individual Awards
- 2004
- 2005
- Best Player of the Conference: Willie Miller (Talk N' Text)
- Best Import Award: Jerald Honeycutt (Talk N' Text)
- Finals MVP: Danny Ildefonso (San Miguel)
- 2005–2006
- Best Player of the Conference: Enrico Villanueva (Red Bull)
- Best Import Award: Marquin Chandler (Purefoods)
- Finals MVP: Lordy Tugade (Red Bull)
