2003 PBA Invitational Championship

2003 PBA Invitational Championship
Duration July 27 – August 23, 2003
TV partner(s) NBN/IBC
Finals
Champions Alaska Aces
Runners-up Coca Cola Tigers
PBA Invitational Championship chronology
PBA conference chronology

The 2003 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung-Invitational Championship, was the second conference of the 2003 PBA season. It started on July 27 and ended on August 23, 2003. The tournament features three guest foreign teams from Korea, China and Yugoslavia along with the Philippine national team.

The Alaska Aces captured their 11th PBA title, beating the Coca Cola Tigers, 2-1, in their best-of-three finals series.[1]

Samsung-PBA Mabuhay Cup

Qualified in Invitationals
#TeamWLPCTGB
1 Alaska Aces401.000–-
2 Barangay Ginebra Kings22.5002
3 Sta. Lucia Realtors22.5002
4 Shell Turbo Chargers22.5002
5 Purefoods TJ Hotdogs04.0004

The Samsung PBA-Mabuhay Cup was the one-round robin between the five lower seeded teams based on their won-loss records in the elimination round of the All-Filipino Cup, to determine the sixth and last qualifying team for the PBA 2nd conference Invitationals.

The Alaska Aces made it as the sixth entry by defeating Barangay Ginebra Kings, 93-85 on July 20 at the Cuneta Astrodome for a perfect 4-0 slate. [2]

Elimination round

Qualified for Semifinals

Group A

#TeamWLPCTGB
1 FedEx Express31.750–-
2 Red Bull Barako31.750–-
3 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals31.750–-
4 KK Novi Sad (Yugoslavia)13.2502
5 Yonsei University (Korea)04.0003

Red Bull gained the last slot in the crossover semis on August 13 at the Cuneta Astrodome in a bizarre ending, Talk 'N Text, which won 88-87, needed to win 8 points, went to the extent of shooting to the Red Bull's goal while enjoying the lead in the closing seconds to possibly force an overtime.[3]

Group B

#TeamWLPCTGB
1 Alaska Aces401.000–-
2 Coca Cola Tigers31.7501
3 San Miguel Beermen22.5002
4 Cebuana Lhuillier (RP Team)13.2503
5 Magnolia-Jilin (China)04.0004

Results

Semifinals

Playoff for third place

August 17
FedEx Express 99, Red Bull Barako 84
FedEx clinch third place

Finals

August 23
Alaska Aces 91, Coca Cola Tigers 86
Alaska wins series, 2-1.

Brandon Lee Cablay held the Aces together with timely hits then sparked a fiery Alaska windup as the Tigers came back from 16 points down to even lead twice early in the last quarter. Cablay nailed a three-pointer that tied the count for the final time at 70-all and added back-to-back baskets that finally doomed the Tigers, 84-74, with 2:24 left in the game. The 6-foot Cablay was adjudged as the first rookie Finals MVP since Danny Seigle with San Miguel back in 1999. [4]

References

  1. ↑ "Odds even in titular showdown". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. ↑ "Alaska Aces clinch sixth and last Invitationals berth". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. ↑ "Mockery to cost TNT heavy fines". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  4. ↑ "Alaska subdues Coke, rules PBA Invitational". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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