2007 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals

a

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

Series scoring summary

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

The Phone Pals trailed by 23 points in the second quarter, 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

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, not only scoring the points that mattered but dishing 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

Game 6

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

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.

Rosters

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Pos. No. Player School F 0 J.J. Sullinger (I) Ohio State F 1 Abby Santos (R) State F 4 Harvey Carey Sonoma State F 7 Jay Washington Eckerd G 8 Patrick Fran Santo Tomas G 9 Mark Cardona De La Salle-Manila G 12 Jonathan Aldave (R) Letran C 18 Yancy de Ocampo St. Francis F 28 Migs Noble Utica G 29 Egay Billones Las Piñas F 33 Victor Pablo Far Eastern C 41 Don Allado De La Salle-Manila G 42 Felix Belano Visayas Position Name/s Head coach:  Derrick Pumaren Assistants: Geraldo V. Ramos, Jose Antonio Yturri, Agustin Tiongco, Bong Ravena (R) - Rookie, (I) - Import ' Light Dark

Alaska Aces Pos. No. Player School G 1 Mike Cortez De La Salle-Manila F 3 Nic Belasco Notre Dame-Maryland G 5 Rensy Bajar San Beda F 7 Sonny Thoss James Cook F 9 Christian Luanzon (R) Santo Tomas F 11 Eddie Laure Adamson G 13 Willie Miller Letran G/F 17 Aaron Aban (R) Letran F 21 Reynel Hugnatan Manila F 22 Jeffrey Cariaso (C) Sonoma State C 32 Poch Juinio State-Diliman G 50 Dale Singson Santo Tomas F 55 John Ferriols San Jose-Recoletos F 75 Rossell Ellis (I) McNeese State Position Name/s Head coach:  Tim Cone Assistants: Joel Banal, Jojo Lastimosa, Dicky Bachmann, Luigi Trillo (C) - Captain, (I) - Import, (R) - Rookie ' Light Dark Alternate

Broadcast notes

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

Finals broadcasters are:

• Game 1: Quinito Henson and Ed Picson
• Game 2: Jason Webb and Ed Picson
• Game 3: Quinito Henson and Mico Halili
• Game 4: Jason Webb and Mico Halili
• Game 5: Quinito Henson and Ed Picson
• Game 6: Jason Webb and Mico Halili
• Game 7: Quinito Henson and Ed Picson

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

External links

• PBA official website