2007–08 PBA Philippine Cup finals
Template:PBA PhilCup Finals summary
The 2007–08 PBA Philippine Cup Finals is the championship series of the 2007-08 PBA season's 2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The series is a best of seven affair and is the 95th championship disputed in the league. The teams competing are first-seed Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and the second-seed Sta. Lucia Realtors. The Realtors are in their first Philippine Cup Finals stint.
Qualification
| Purefoods | Sta. Lucia | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished 12-6 (0.667) | Elimination round | Finished 12-6 (0.667) - 2nd | |
| 2-0 against Sta. Lucia - 1st | Tiebreaker | ||
| Bye | Wildcard phase | Bye | |
| Quarterfinals | |||
| Def. Red Bull Barako - 4-3 | Semifinals | Def. Alaska Aces - 4-3 | |
Lineups
Series scoring summary
| Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purefoods | 97 | 101 | 118 | 106 | 76 | 89 | 88 | 3 |
| Sta. Lucia | 109 | 112 | 107 | 98 | 88 | 81 | 100 | 4 |
| Venue | Araneta | Araneta | Araneta | Araneta | Araneta | Araneta | Araneta |
Game summaries
Game 1
February 15
7:20 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 97, Sta. Lucia Realtors 109 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26-19, 29-27, 19-33, 23-30 | ||
| Pts: James Yap 22 Rebs: Marc Pingris 11 Asts: Roger Yap 4 |
Pts: Kelly Williams 24 Rebs: Kelly Williams 12 Asts: Ryan Reyes 5 | |
| Sta. Lucia leads series, 1–0 | ||
Purefoods and SLR engaged in a battle of attrition in the first three quarters but the Realtors pulled away late in the third quarter. Thanks to defense that led into transition offense, Kelly Williams collected 14 of his game-high 24 points to outscore the Giants 30-23 in the fourth quarter to claim Game 1.[1]
Game 2
February 17
6:30 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 101, Sta. Lucia Realtors 112 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 26-28, 27-25, 28-28, 20-31 | ||
| Pts: James Yap 28 Rebs: Marc Pingris 11 Asts: Kerby Raymundo 8 |
Pts: Kelly Williams 23 Rebs: Kelly Williams 11 Asts: Dennis Miranda 6 | |
| Sta. Lucia leads series, 2–0 | ||
Just like in Game 1, Purefoods and SLR fought a close game until the fourth quarter when Sta. Lucia's younger players led a 12-2 run to close out the game; Joseph Yeo scored 16 while Miranda added 14 plus 6 assists.[2]
Game 3
February 20
7:00 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 118, Sta. Lucia Realtors 107 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 28-26, 31-30, 27-24, 32-27 | ||
| Pts: James Yap 27 Rebs: Rommel Adducul 10 Asts: Kerby Raymundo 6 |
Pts: Joseph Yeo 22 Rebs: Kelly Williams 14 Asts: Joseph Yeo 3 | |
| Sta. Lucia leads series, 2–1 | ||
Purefoods found their finishing kick in the fourth quarter to prevent a sweep of the championship series to clinch their first win. With Peter June Simon being the third scoring option, Simon led the Giants through the third quarter with his outside sniping. James Yap and Kerby Raymundo finished off Simon's work in the fourth quarter. Williams got cold in the payoff quarter that prevented SLR's comeback.[3]
Game 4
February 22
7:00 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 106, Sta. Lucia Realtors 98 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 27-28, 34-23, 22-37, 23-10 | ||
| Pts: James Yap 32 Rebs: Rommel Adducul 13 Asts: Kerby Raymundo 5 |
Pts: Nelbert Omolon 19 Rebs: Kelly Williams 12 Asts: Dennis Miranda 9 | |
| Purefoods ties series, 2–2 | ||
Prior to the game, Kelly Williams was awarded with the Best Player of the Conference Award, beating out Kerby Raymundo of Purefoods, Willie Miller of Alaska, Asi Taulava of Coca-Cola and Arwind Santos of Air21. Williams is the first Realtor to win the award[4]
However, the award has a jinx in which the awardee will lose the game in which he was awarded. Sta. Lucia tried to prevent that as they led by a point after the first quarter in which Raymundo and Pingris were assessed with two technical fouls each due to excessive complaining. Purefoods led by 10 thanks to a buzzer-beater by Roger Yap when the shot clock expired prior to half-time. Sta. Lucia closed the gap in the third quarter thanks to Nelbert Omolon's and Dennis Miranda's three-point shooting.
With the two teams exchanging turnovers at the fourth quarter, the Giants seized the initiative when James Yap scored 4 points in the last 2:03 to break the last deadlock at 95-all; Yap scored a conference-high 32 points. Purefoods managed to hold on to tie the series 2-2.[5]
Game 5
February 24
6:30 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 76, Sta. Lucia Realtors 88 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 19-15, 20-22, 11-25, 26-26 | ||
| Pts: Kerby Raymundo 20 Rebs: Marc Pingris 9 Asts: Kerby Raymundo 7 |
Pts: Kelly Williams 20 Rebs: Kelly Williams 16 Asts: Miranda, Aquino 4 each | |
| Sta. Lucia leads series, 3–2 | ||
With both Yeo and Yap suspended, the two teams had less options for offense which led to the lowest scoring first quarter of the series. Purefoods opened the game on a better note, however, when they led by as much as 11 points in the first half.
The Realtors crept back into the game thanks to points off Purefoods' turnovers. Simon got cold and Raymundo had a tough time against SLR's zone defense. With Sta. Lucia erecting a double-digit lead, Purefoods managed to cut to seven but Chico Lanete's turnover in a fastbreak attempt ended the Giants' hopes of a comeback.
SLR had good games from veterans Dennis Espino and Paolo Mendoza who stepped up in Yeo's absence.[6]
Game 6
February 27
7:00 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 89, Sta. Lucia Realtors 81 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 22-15, 18-15, 17-29, 32-22 | ||
| Pts: James Yap 30 Rebs: Marc Pingris 21 Asts: Kerby Raymundo 11 |
Pts: Dennis Espino 22 Rebs: Kelly Williams 17 Asts: Dennis Miranda 5 | |
| Purefoods ties series, 3–3 | ||
Both Yeo and Yap returned from the suspensions in the pivotal Game 6; the TJ Giants are on a do-or-die situation while the Realtors can clinch the title with a win.
The teams took the opening quarter strong but Purefoods pulled away after a tight first few minutes. SLR caught up with them at the second quarter but thanks to Purefoods' rebounding, they inflated their lead by up to ten points at half-time.
The Realtors stepped their offense on the third quarter, even leading at some points. But James Yap scored 20 of his 30 teams in the payoff period to lead Purefoods into a Game 7. Williams had a lackluster offensive game although he grabbed 17 rebounds; but it was Marc Pingris who grabbed the most boards, with a series high 21 rebounds.[7]
Game 7
March 2
6:30 p.m. |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 88, Sta. Lucia Realtors 100 | ||
| Scoring by quarter: 21-18, 24-26, 25-27, 18-29 | ||
| Pts: Peter June Simon 27 Rebs: Marc Pingris 13 Asts: Roger Yap 4 |
Pts: Dennis Espino 29 Rebs: Kelly Williams 15 Asts: Joseph Yeo 5 | |
| Sta. Lucia wins series, 4–3 | ||
With the Araneta Coliseum unavailable for February 29 due to a Ne-Yo concert, the final game was conducted on March 2. YouTube singing sensation Charice Pempengco sang the national anthem prior the game.
Sta. Lucia started with a 6-1 blast but Purefoods caught up with them and took the lead at the end of the first quarter. Sta. Lucia and the TJ Giants kept it close as neither team led by more than double figures by half-time. When the third quarter started, Sta. Lucia ignited a run that saw their lead reach 10 points; Simon then led the comeback for Purefoods as the Giants caught up once again to arrange a close fourth quarter.
The game was close until the seven-minute mark when Ryan Reyes scored a three-point field goal; James Yap, not to be outdone, shot a trey but it rattled out of rim. The #1 draft pick on the 1995 PBA Draft Dennis Espino then led the 13-2 run as Purefoods' outside shots rattled in-and-out of the rim for a Sta. Lucia pull-away. Giants coach Ryan Gregorio used up all of his timeouts but the Realtors managed to convert their inside jumpers. Espino scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to prevent a Purefoods incursion to assure the Sta. Lucia franchise their first Philippine Cup championship and their second championship overall. Espino was adjudged as the Finals MVP.[8]
| 2007-08 Philippine Cup Champions |
|---|
Sta. Lucia Realtors Second title |
Finals Most Valuable Player
Statistics
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purefoods | 169 | 183 | 149 | 174 | 675 |
| Sta. Lucia | 149 | 168 | 203 | 175 | 695 |
Purefoods
| Name | GP | 2FG% | 3FG% | FG% | FT% | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | Blk | Fls | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rommel Adducul | 7 | 57.1 | -- | 57.1 | 55.6 | 8.4 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.14 | 0.57 | 3.6 | 5.6 |
| Noy Castillo | 6 | 50.0 | 35.7 | 38.9 | 50.0 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.4 | 4.4 |
| Rey Evangelista | 3 | 77.8 | 100.0 | 80.0 | 0.00 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 2.0 | 5.7 |
| Chico Lanete | 6 | 29.4 | 36.4 | 32.1 | 75.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.57 | 0.00 | 1.4 | 3.6 |
| Ardy Larong | 4 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 33.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.00 | 0.25 | 2.5 | 1.0 |
| Marc Pingris | 7 | 54.5 | -- | 54.5 | 73.9 | 11.6 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.29 | 1.43 | 4.3 | 9.3 |
| Kerby Raymundo | 7 | 44.1 | 14.3 | 38.6 | 86.7 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 3.6 | 0.71 | 1.00 | 3.6 | 18.6 |
| Omanzie Rodriguez | 2 | 60.0 | -- | 60.0 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 0.4 | 2.0 |
| Jondan Salvador | 7 | 53.3 | -- | 53.3 | 50.0 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Robert Sanz | 4 | 66.7 | 25.0 | 52.2 | 81.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Peter June Simon | 7 | 48.1 | 33.3 | 41.4 | 74.4 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.14 | 0.00 | 2.6 | 18.4 |
| James Yap | 6 | 43.9 | 32.3 | 40.2 | 70.6 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.17 | 0.83 | 2.7 | 20.7 |
| Roger Yap | 7 | 51.4 | 30.0 | 46.7 | 66.7 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 2.8 | 8.8 |
| Richard Yee | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
Sta. Lucia
| Name | GP | 2FG% | 3FG% | FG% | FT% | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | Blk | Fls | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlou Aquino | 6 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 40.8 | 50.0 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.14 | 0.43 | 1.9 | 7.0 |
| Philip Butel | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Christian Coronel | 5 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 28.6 | -- | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 2.2 | 0.8 |
| Dennis Daa | 6 | 44.4 | 100.0 | 47.4 | 77.8 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 2.5 | 4.3 |
| Dennis Espino | 7 | 61.2 | 0.0 | 56.9 | 80.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.00 | 0.71 | 3.0 | 16.3 |
| Norman Gonzales | 7 | 44.4 | 40.0 | 42.1 | 69.2 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.29 | 0.00 | 2.1 | 4.1 |
| Melvin Mamaclay | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Paolo Mendoza | 6 | 44.4 | 36.4 | 40.0 | 58.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.71 | 0.00 | 2.3 | 6.7 |
| Dennis Miranda | 7 | 45.9 | 50.0 | 46.3 | 83.3 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.86 | 0.14 | 3.4 | 9.3 |
| Nelbert Omolon | 7 | 56.3 | 44.4 | 53.0 | 58.3 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.86 | 0.86 | 4.6 | 13.1 |
| Ryan Reyes | 7 | 37.0 | 15.8 | 30.8 | 90.5 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 1.57 | 0.14 | 3.4 | 8.9 |
| Kelly Williams | 7 | 37.0 | 15.8 | 30.8 | 58.5 | 10.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.71 | 0.43 | 2.4 | 15.3 |
| Joseph Yeo | 6 | 50.0 | 36.8 | 45.5 | 79.4 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 1.9 | 14.0 |
Broadcast notes
| Game | Play-by-play | Analyst |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Ed Picson | Quinito Henson and Norman Black |
| Game 2 | Mico Halili | Jason Webb and Norman Black |
| Game 3 | Mico Halili | Rado Dimalibot and Norman Black |
| Game 4 | Ed Picson | Quinito Henson and Norman Black |
| Game 5 | Ed Picson | Quinito Henson and Norman Black |
| Game 6 | Mico Halili | Jason Webb and Norman Black |
| Game 7 | Richard del Rosario | Jason Webb and Norman Black |
Suspensions and other issues
James Yap suspension
With Game 3 already decided, James Yap committed a flagrant foul (penalty 1) against Joseph Yeo. Yeo was driving to the basket when he passed the ball to a teammate; after that, Yap slapped Yeo in the face to mete a flagrant foul. Commissioner Sonny Barrios suspended Yap for a game and fined the 2005-06 MVP P20,000. Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio remarked it as a "damning decision" while Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez said it was a "big boost" for his team.[9] Yap will serve his suspension at Game 5 since notification to Gregorio arrived in the late evening.[10]
In a related event, Purefoods alternate governor Rene Pardo resigned as chairman of the PBA ethics committee as a direct off-shoot of the team’s disgruntlement on the way Barrios handled the James Yap case. Pardo said that, Barrios, who suspended Yap on the same day the commissioner met with some top Sta. Lucia officials at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, "the timing was awful. It should have been with some sense of propriety that the lunch offer was turned down." Barrios on his part didn't see anything wrong with the lunch meeting since the meeting was done at a public place.[11]
Meanwhile, San Miguel Corporation pulled out their ads from the Associated Broadcasting Company (ABC)'s TV coverage. No reason was given.[12] The league's technical head, Perry Martinez, went on an indefinite leave of absence after voicing his disagreement over Yap's suspension, due to "health issues."[7]
Joseph Yeo suspension
With SLR on a fouling spree to conserve time on Game 4, Yeo committed a flagrant foul (penalty 2) when he hit Noy Castillo in the face. Yeo and Castillo then had a shouting spree before Castillo missed his two free throws. This would assure that Yeo will miss Game 5 along with James Yap.
References
- ^ STA. LUCIA OVERCOMES FINALS JITTERS TO CLAIM GAME 1, PBA.ph
- ^ STA. LUCIA IN COMMAND, 2-0, PBA.ph
- ^ PUREFOODS BOUNCES BACK, NARROWS GAP TO 2-1, PBA.ph
- ^ WILLIAMS NAMED BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
- ^ PBA: Giants tie Realtors at 2-all in finals series, GMA News.
- ^ STA. LUCIA A WIN AWAY FROM 1ST ALL-FILIPINO TITLE, PBA.ph
- ^ a b Yap returns, but league still feels his suspension, Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ Realtors finally bag all-Filipino crown by Musong R. Castillo, Philippine Daily Inquirer.
- ^ Giants to miss Yap, Malaya
- ^ PUREFOODS SEEKS EQUALIZER, PBA.ph
- ^ Pardo quits post in ethics committee, Malaya
- ^ SMC cancels PBA ads, The Philippine Star.
