2007-08 PBA Philippine Cup

The 2007-08 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup or known as the 2007-08 Smart PBA Philippine Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the first conference of the 2007-08 PBA season. The tournament was formally opened on October 14 and is expected to end around February 2008. The tournament is an All-Filipino format, which doesn't require an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The winner will receive the Jun Bernardino Trophy. The Sta. Lucia Realtors needed the maximum seven games to defeat the #1 seed Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants to win their first All-Filipino conference championship.

Format

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference: [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1788/59/ "TOP GUNS BACK IN HARNESS WHEN 33RD SEASON OPENS ON OCT. 14"] , PBA.ph. Accessed September 24, 2007.]
* Double-round robin eliminations; 18 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win-loss records. Ties are broken among points differences of the tied teams or by classification games.
* #10 team will be eliminated
* Teams seeded #6, #7, #8 and #9 play in a single-elimination tournament to determine the wildcard qualifier:
** #6 vs. #9 teams
** #7 vs. #8 teams
**Winners of the first round meet each other to determine the wildcard winner
* #3, #4 and #5 teams automatically advance to the best-of-3 quarterfinals:
** #3 team vs. winner of wildcard playoffs
** #4 vs. #5 teams
* #1 and #2 teams automatically advance to the best-of-7 semifinals:
**Winner of first quarterfinal vs. #1
**Winner of second quarterfinal vs. #2
*The winners in the semifinals advance to the best-of-7 Finals. The losers dispute the third-place trophy in a one-game playoff.

Elimination round

Team standings

Bracket

Purefoods, owing to a couple of weeks' rest blew out Red Bull which had defeated last season's finalists in Game 1. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1968/2/ PUREFOODS CLOBBERS BATTLE-WEARY RED BULL] , PBA.ph] However, Red Bull came back in Game 2 to put up a defensive stand in the fourth quarter to tie the series, 2-2. Team captain Junthy Valenzuela kept the Giants at bay when they were making a run in the final minutes, scoring 2 crucial baskets. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1973/2/ BARAKOS SURVIVE GIANTS’ LAST-DITCH RALLY TO LEVEL SERIES] , PBA.ph] Purefoods then did their own pull-away at Game 3, crashing the boards at will; Marc Pingris rebounded a career-high 19 boards. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1978/2/ SPLENDID BOARDWORK GIVES PUREFOODS 2-1 EDGE] , PBA.ph]

With a 1-3 series deficit looming, Red Bull again kept a pace with Purefoods in Game 4; however James Yap injured his groin in the first quarter after scoring ten points and didn't return. Purefoods managed to hold-off Red Bull until Cyrus Baguio drove to the basket after a pick-and-roll for an unmolested lay-up to tie the game 86-all. Peter June Simon missed his baseline jumper as time ran out to force overtime. In the extra period, Red Bull made a 11-2 run care of three pointers from Celino Cruz and Francis Adriano to tie the series once again. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1979/2/ RED BULL WINS GAME 4 IN OT AS PUREFOODS LOSES JAMES YAP TO INJURY] , PBA.ph]

After the injury to Yap, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio announced prior to Game 5 that Yap would be day-to-day. [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1981/2/ CRUCIAL WEDNESDAY DOUBLEHEADER AT THE BIG DOME] , PBA.ph] However, Yap started on Game 5 and Purefoods raced to a 40-17 lead after the first quarter. Red Bull crept up the lead and eventually cut down the lead to two with a minute to go thanks to a trey from Mick Pennisi. In the ensuing possession, Pingris was fouled on the act of shooting; Pingris missed both of his freethrows to give Red Bull another chance. After the time out and with both teams in penalty, Valenzuela was fouled. Valenzuela converted the first but missed the second, which led to a Kerby Raymundo rebound that sealed the win for the Giants. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1984/2/ PUREFOODS ESCAPES WITH NAILBITER OF A WIN] , PBA.ph]

Needing to win twice in a row to enter the Finals, Red Bull started Game 6 with a 20-1 blast that caught Purefoods flatfooted. The Bulls then cruised on, with Mike Hrabak and Pennisi shooting treys to tie the series for last time, at 3-all. [ [http://www.pba.ph/content/view/1986/1/ RED BULL FORGES DO-OR-DIE GAME 7] , PBA.ph] However, Purefoods started out Game 7 strong but the Barakos answered every Giants run to keep pace; however, thanks to misses from the perimeter by Red Bull and Purefoods' transition defense, the Giants were able to clinch their league-leading 12th All-Filipino Cup finals appearance.

ta. Lucia-Alaska series

Elimination round games: Sta. Lucia won both games, 94-88 and 101-96.

Broadcast notes

The Associated Broadcasting Company broadcast all of the games in Philippine TV. Their finals broadcasters are:Furthermore, the ABS-CBN News Channel carried the Finals live overseas. Sports Radio 918 carried the games live on AM radio.

Featured songs include "How Far We've Come" by Matchbox Twenty and "Shadow of the Day" by Linkin Park.

Awards

*Finals Most Valuable Player: Dennis Espino (Sta. Lucia)
*Best Player of the Conference: Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia)
*Players of the Week:
**October 14-21: James Yap (Purefoods)
**October 22-28: Junthy Valenzuela (Red Bull)
**October 29-November 4: Willie Miller (Alaska)
**November 5-11: Froilan Baguion (Welcoat)
**November 12-18: Lordy Tugade (Magnolia) and Nic Belasco (Welcoat)
**November 19-25: James Yap (Purefoods, 2nd time) and Junthy Valenzuela (Red Bull, 2nd time)
**November 26-December 2: Jeffrey Cariaso (Alaska) and Asi Taulava (Coca-Cola)
**December 3-9: Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia)
**December 10-16: Asi Taulava (Coca-Cola, 2nd time)
**December 17-23: Ryan Reyes (Sta. Lucia; rookie)
**December 24-30: Sunday Salvacion (Brgy. Ginebra)
**December 31-January 6: James Yap (Purefoods, 3rd time) and Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia, 2nd time)
**January 7-13: Nelbert Omolon (Sta. Lucia)
**January 14-20: Asi Taulava (Coca-Cola, 3rd time} and Mark Telan (Coca-Cola)
**January 21-27: Willie Miller (Alaska, 2nd time)
**January 28-February 3: Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia, 3rd time) and Junthy Valenzuela (Red Bull, 3rd time)
**February 4-10: James Yap (Purefoods, 4th time)

tats leaders

References

External links

* [http://www.pba.ph PBA.ph]
* [http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=9i7dndt1skm3i5sk1f2hkkk1no%40group.calendar.google.com PBA Philippine Cup Game Schedule (gCal)]
* [http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/9i7dndt1skm3i5sk1f2hkkk1no%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics PBA Philippine Cup Game Schedule (iCal)] PBAseason2
yearA=2007-08
Conference 1=Philippine Cup
yearB=2008
Conference 2=Fiesta Conference