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

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.

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

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 85, Alaska Aces 113
Scoring by quarter: 28-16, 16-29, 19-37, 22-31
Pts: James Sullinger 25 Rebs: James Sullinger 12 Asts: Mark Cardona 3		Pts: Cortez, Ellis 22 each Rebs: Rossel Ellis 13 Asts: Rossel Ellis 10

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Referees: Cruz, Herrera, Ferrer

Game 2

ABC

July 8 6:30 P.M.

boxscore

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 120, Alaska Aces 113
Scoring by quarter: 28-30, 25-30, 31-33, 27-29
Pts: Mark Cardona 30 Rebs: Yancy de Ocampo 9 Asts: Mark Cardona 5		Pts: Rossel Ellis 40 Rebs: Rossel Ellis 18 Asts: Rossel Ellis 7

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Referees: Calungcaguin, Aldaba, Ferrer

Game 3

ABC

July 11 7:30 P.M.

boxscore

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 95, Alaska Aces 87
Scoring by quarter: 15-30, 25-26, 27-12, 28-19
Pts: James Sullinger 30 Rebs: James Sullinger 15 Asts: James Sullinger 8		Pts: Willie Miller 29 Rebs: Rossel Ellis 13 Asts: Ellis, Hugnatan 3 each

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

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 82, Alaska Aces 86
Scoring by quarter: 25-21, 18-24, 23-18, 16-23
Pts: James Sullinger 26 Rebs: James Sullinger 13 Asts: Felix Belano 5		Pts: Willie Miller 29 Rebs: Rossel Ellis 14 Asts: Willie Miller 4

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) 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

ABC

July 15 6:30 p.m.

boxscore

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 107, Alaska Aces 104
Scoring by quarter: 31-25, 23-20, 25-27, 28-32
Pts: James Sullinger 24 Rebs: Sullinger, Carey 8 each Asts: Mark Cardona 5		Pts: Rossel Ellis 28 Rebs: Rossel Ellis 16 Asts: Miller, Ellis 5 each

Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Attendance: 11,097 Referees: Quilinguen, Herrera, Montiel

Game 6

ABC

July 18 7:05 p.m.

boxscore

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 110, Alaska Aces 121
Scoring by quarter: 34-22, 11-34, 31-38, 34-27
Pts: Mark Cardona 29 Rebs: James Sullinger 9 Asts: James Sullinger 3		Pts: Willie Miller 37 Rebs: Rossel Ellis 16 Asts: Cortez, Ellis 8 each

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

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 96, Alaska Aces 99
Scoring by quarter: 26-25, 27-20, 19-25, 24-29
Pts: Sullinger 30, Cardona 29 Rebs: Sullinger 13, Washington 10 Asts: Sullinger 5, Billones 4		Pts: Ellis 30, Miller 22 Rebs: Ellis 10, Hugnatan 8 Asts: Ellis 9, Miller 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.

2007 Fiesta Conference Champions
Alaska Aces 12th title

Rosters

Talk 'N Text Phone Pals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. F 0 Sullinger, James "JJ" (I) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Ohio State SF 1 Santos, Abby 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) UP Diliman PG 3 Alapag, Jimmy  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 5 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  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  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) BYU–Hawaii	Head coach Derrick Pumaren (UE) Assistant coach(es) 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 Injured

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Alaska Aces roster

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 Tim Cone (James Madison) Assistant coach(es) 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

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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)

External links

• PBA official website