2007–08 PBA season

The 2007-08 PBA Season was the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season was formally opened on October 14, 2007 at the Araneta Coliseum. The league started the season with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while capping off the season with the import-laiden Fiesta Conference.

2007–08 PBA season
2007–08 PBA season
DurationOctober 14, 2007 – August 20, 2008
Number of teams10
TV partner(s)ABC, TV5
Draft
Top draft pickJoe Devance
Picked byWelcoat Dragons
Conferences
Philippine Cup championsSta. Lucia Realtors
  Runners-upPurefoods Tender Juicy Giants
Fiesta Conference championsBarangay Ginebra Kings
  Runners-upAir21 Express
Awards
Season MVPKelly Williams (Sta. Lucia Realtors)
Top scorerMark Cardona (Talk 'N Text)
Seasons

Renauld "Sonny" Barrios was appointed as commissioner while serving as an officer in charge of the league until a replacement for former commissioner Noli Eala will be found.[1]

The first activity of the season was the 2007 PBA Draft last August 19 at the Market Market in Taguig City.

Board of governors

Executive committee
  • Jose Emmanuel M. Eala (Commissioner until August 7, 2007)
  • Renauld N. Barrios (officer-in-charge starting August 8, 2008)
  • Antonio T. Chua (Chairman, representing Red Bull Barako)
  • Joaquin L. Trillo (Vice-Chairman, representing Alaska Aces)
  • Robert Non (Treasurer, representing Barangay Ginebra Kings)

Teams
TeamCompanyGovernorAlternate Governor
Air21 ExpressAirfrieght 2100, Inc.Angelito Alvarez
Alaska AcesAlaska Milk CorporationWilfred Steven UytengsuJoaquin Trillo
Barako Bull EnergyPhotokina Marketing CorporationAntonio ChuaRafaelito Casyao
Barangay Ginebra KingsGinebra San Miguel, Inc.Robert NonGerardo Payumo
Coca Cola TigersCoca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.Jose Bayani Baylon
Magnolia Beverage MastersSan Miguel CorporationRoberto HuangEliezer Capacio
Purefoods Tender Juicy GiantsPurefoods CorporationRene PardoFrancisco Alejo III
Sta. Lucia RealtorsSta. Lucia Realty and Development CorporationManuel EncarnadoAriel Salvador Magno
Talk 'N Text Phone PalsPhilippine Long Distance Telephone CompanyVictorico VargasRamoncito Fernandez
Welcoat DragonsAsian Coatings Philippines, Inc.Mamerto MondragonCarlo Quevada

Pre-season events
  • San Miguel Corporation changed the name of the San Miguel Beermen to the Magnolia Beverage Masters; "Magnolia" was their product name from 1985-87.
  • Gec Chia and Paolo Hubalde of the Barangay Ginebra Kings were traded to the Air21 Express for Paul Artadi who was traded by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.[2]
  • Joseph Yeo of the Coca Cola Tigers and the team's 2009 second round draft pick rights were traded to the Sta. Lucia Realtors for Mark Isip and Cesar Catli.[3]
  • On October 3, Magnolia Beverage Masters' Danny Seigle and Brgy. Ginebra's Billy Mamaril had an altercation during a pre-season tune-up game at the Greenmeadows Gym. OIC Commissioner Sonny Barrios fined Seigle P10,000.[4]
  • New rules were approved in order to make the league rules more consistent to FIBA's rules rather than the National Basketball Association (NBA):
    • The controlled handcheck foul will be implemented.
    • The three-point arc would now be reset to 20 feet and 6 inches (FIBA standard) from 22 feet.
    • The key would now be trapezoidal (FIBA) instead of rectangular (NBA).[5]
  • With a change in their team name, Magnolia unveiled their new logo and uniforms, using the blue and white motif. Alaska replaced their red uniforms with their black alternates first used in the 2007 Fiesta Conference Finals, while Purefoods replaced their navy blue dark uniforms with their red alternates from the 2007 Fiesta Conference. Red Bull introduced a new slightly-modified logo and uniforms, and Sta. Lucia slightly modified their old uniforms, adding a diagonal stripe on the shoulders.

Opening ceremonies

The season began on October 14 with the Magnolia Beverage Masters defeating the Air21 Express, 121-112.

The muses for the participating teams are as follows:

Team Muse
Air21 Express Jean Harn
Alaska Aces Phoemela Barranda
Barangay Ginebra Kings Iwa Moto
Coca-Cola Tigers Pokwang
Magnolia Beverage Masters Juliana Rogatti
Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants Kim Chiu
Red Bull Barako Red Bull models (Idyll, Mica, Sheena and Thea)
Sta. Lucia Realtors Maggie Wilson
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Marian Rivera
Welcoat Dragons Kat Labung

2007–08 Philippine Cup
Main article: 2007–08 PBA Philippine Cup

Notable events
  • Red Bull Barako head coach Yeng Guiao was suspended for one game after verbally confronting league technical group chief Perry Martinez after their game against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.[6] Serving the suspension against the Welcoat Dragons, assistant Gee Abanilla became the head coach for the game, in which Red Bull won.[7]
  • Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants point guard Roger Yap was suspended for one game after hitting LA Tenorio of the Magnolia Beverage Masters; he served the suspension against the Welcoat Dragons in which Purefoods won.[8]
  • In Welcoat Dragons' 126-125 overtime win against the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals, both teams converted 29 three-point field goals, a new PBA record.[9]
  • On November 26, the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals traded Asi Taulava to the Coca-Cola Tigers in exchange for Ali Peek and a first-round pick.[10]
  • Talk 'N Text Phone Pals players Mark Cardona and Harvey Carey were suspended after their altercation against Welcoat Dragon Jojo Tangkay. The two Phone Pals will be suspended on their game against the Air21 Express, while Carey would also be suspended on Talk 'N Text's game against the Sta. Lucia Realtors. Both Carey and Cardona were fined 20,000 pesos each. The case of Welcoat's Ryan Araña's flagrant foul on Asi Taulava on their loss against the Coca-Cola Tigers was deferred.[11] Araña was later suspended on Welcoat's defeat against Red Bull Barako.[12]
  • The Air21 Express acquired Gabby Espinas from the Magnolia Beverage Masters in exchange for one of Air21's first round picks in the 2008 Draft.[11]
  • On January 17, 2008, the PBA Board of Governors named officer-in-charge Sonny Barrios as the new commissioner up to the end of the season after a deadlock ensued between governors that supported Atty. Chito Salud and Lambert Ramos. Barrios has yet to accept his appointment.[13]
  • Red Bull Barako's Carlo Sharma and Jondan Salvador of the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants were suspended for one game after figuring in a fistfight which led to their ejection from the game. Aside from the suspension, Sharma was fined P25,000 while Salvador was fined P20,000. Sharma served his suspension on game 1 of their quarterfinals series against the Magnolia Beverage Masters, in which Red Bull won; Salvador will serve his suspension in game 1 of their semifinals series against Red Bull, in which Purefoods won.
  • On January 24, Barrios accepted his appointment as commissioner.[14]

Elimination round
Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 12 6 .667[lower-alpha 1] — Advance to semifinals
2 Sta. Lucia Realtors 12 6 .667[lower-alpha 1] —
3 Alaska Aces 11 7 .611[lower-alpha 2] 1 Advance to quarterfinals
4 Red Bull Barako 11 7 .611[lower-alpha 2] 1
5 Magnolia Beverage Masters 10 8 .556 2
6 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters 9 9 .500 3 Advance to wildcard round
7 Barangay Ginebra Kings 8 10 .444 4
8 Air21 Express 7 11 .389[lower-alpha 3] 5
9 Coca-Cola Tigers 7 11 .389[lower-alpha 3] 5
10 Welcoat Dragons 3 15 .167 9
Source:
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head record: Purefoods 2–0 Sta. Lucia
  2. Head-to-head record: Alaska 1–1, Red Bull, Alaska +29, Red Bull −29
  3. Head-to-head record: Air21 2–0, Coca-Cola

Playoff
Wildcard phase
Knockout games		 Quarterfinals
Best of 3 series		 Semifinals
Best of 7 series		 Philippine Cup Finals
Best of 7 series
                                             
    3  Alaska 2  
    9  Coca-Cola 0  
6  Talk 'N Text 73       3  Alaska 3  
9  Coca-Cola 81       2  Sta. Lucia 4  
  9  Coca-Cola 109       2  Sta. Lucia 4
  8  Air21 102       1  Purefoods 3
7  Brgy. Ginebra 110     1  Purefoods 4
8  Air21 119       4  Red Bull 3      Third-place playoff
  4  Red Bull 2     3  Alaska 104
  5  Magnolia 0     4  Red Bull 125

Finals results

Mid-season break
  • The Coca Cola Tigers acquired Nic Belasco from the Welcoat Dragons in exchange for Mark Isip and Coke's 2010 and 2011 second round draft picks.[15]
  • Caloy Garcia was named as the new head coach of the Welcoat Dragons on March 18 after Leo Austria resigned from his post.[16]
  • On March 19, Mike Cortez and Ken Bono of the Alaska Aces were traded to the Magnolia Beverage Masters for LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier.[17]
  • Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants' center Romel Adducul took a leave of absence after being diagnosed to be afflicted with nasopharyngeal cancer. This event triggered a four team trade between Purefoods, Magnolia, Coca-Cola and Barangay Ginebra. Magnolia dealt Enrico Villanueva and Willy Wilson to Coca-Cola in exchange for Chester Tolomia. Then Coke traded Villanueva to Purefoods for Marc Pingris. Pingris was then traded to Magnolia in exchange of the team's future draft pick and Wilson was sent to Barangay Ginebra in exchange for Mark Macapagal.[18]

On March 20, Talk N Text traded franchise player Asi Taulava to Coca Cola in exchange for Ali Peak and 2nd picks for next season.

PBA Ateneo-La Salle Showdown

A game was held for the benefit of the PBA Players' Educational Trust Fund at the Araneta Coliseum featuring players from UAAP archrivals Ateneo and La Salle. Studio 23 aired the event with ABS-CBN Sports producing.

March 23
PBA–La Salle  90–90  PBA–Ateneo
Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

2008 Fiesta Conference
Main article: 2008 PBA Fiesta Conference

Notable events
  • Air21 Express' Homer Se was fined P20,000 for a flagrant foul-penalty 1 on their game against the Sta. Lucia Realtors when he put up a fighting stance after the looseball scramble between Williams and Air21 guard Wynne Arboleda directed towards SLR rookie Ryan Reyes and import Jamar Brown.[19]

Elimination round
Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Air21 Express 12 6 .667 — Advance to semifinals
2 Red Bull Barako 11 7 .611 1
3 Barangay Ginebra Kings 10 8 .556[lower-alpha 1] 2 Advance to quarterfinals
4 Coca-Cola Tigers 10 8 .556[lower-alpha 1] 2
5 Magnolia Beverage Masters 10 8 .556[lower-alpha 1] 2
6 Alaska Aces 9 9 .500[lower-alpha 2] 3 Advance to wildcard round
7 Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters 9 9 .500[lower-alpha 2] 3
8 Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants 8 10 .444 4
9 Sta. Lucia Realtors 7 11 .389 5
10 Welcoat Dragons 4 14 .222 8
Source:
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head record: Barangay Ginebra +14, Coca-Cola +4, Magnolia −18
  2. Head-to-head record: Alaska 1–1, Talk 'N Text, Alaska +9, Talk 'N Text −9

Playoff
Wildcard phase
Knockout games		 Quarterfinals
Best of 3 series		 Semifinals
Best of 7 series		 Fiesta Finals
Best of 7 series
                                             
    3  Brgy. Ginebra 2  
    9  Sta. Lucia 0  
6  Alaska 85       3  Brgy. Ginebra 4  
9  Sta. Lucia 99       2  Red Bull 0  
  9  Sta. Lucia 111       3  Brgy. Ginebra 4
  7  Talk 'N Text 96       1  Air21 3
7  Talk 'N Text 98     1  Air21 4
8  Purefoods 83       5  Magnolia 2      Third-place playoff
  4  Coca-Cola 1     2  Red Bull 102
  5  Magnolia 2     5  Magnolia 90

Finals results
  • Fiesta Conference Finals: (3) Brgy. Ginebra (10-8) def. (1) Air21 (12-6), 4 games to 3.
  • Third place: Red Bull (def. Magnolia 102-90 in a one-game playoff)
  • Best Player of the Conference: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra)
  • Best Import of the Conference: Chris Alexander (Barangay Ginebra)

2008 PBA All-Star Weekend
Main article: 2008 PBA All-Star Weekend

The 2008 PBA All-Star Weekend was held from April 25 to April 27 at Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The winners were:

April 25
Rookies 101, Sophomores 97
West Negros University Gym, Bacolod City
Ronjay Buenafe named the game's most valuable player.
April 27
6:30 p.m.
North All-Stars 158, South All-Stars 163 (OT)
Scoring by quarter: 41–41, 37–38, 36–34, 35–34, Overtime: 14–9
Pts: Mark Caguioa 24 Pts: Peter June Simon 29
Peter June Simon named the game's most valuable player.
West Negros University Gym, Bacolod
Attendance: 4,000+

Individual awards

Awards given by the PBA Press Corps
  • Coach of the Year: Boyet Fernandez (Sta. Lucia)
  • Mr. Quality Minutes: Peter June Simon (Purefoods)
  • Comeback Player of the Year: Mike Hrabak (Red Bull)
  • Referee of the Year: Jess Fernandez
  • All-Rookie Team
    • Ryan Reyes (Sta. Lucia)
    • Chico Lañete (Purefoods)
    • Joe Devance (Welcoat)
    • Doug Kramer (Air21)
    • Ronjay Buenafe (Coca-Cola)

Cumulative standings
Champion
Second place
Third place
Semifinalist
Quarterfinalist
Wildcard qualifier
Elimination round
TeamGPWLPCTBest finish
Red Bull Barako533122.585Third place
Barangay Ginebra Kings502822.560Champion
Sta. Lucia Realtors542925.537Champion
Air21 Express512724.529Runner-up
Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants512724.529Runner-up
Alaska Aces452322.511Fourth place
Magnolia Beverage Masters472423.511Fourth place
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals391920.487Wildcard phase
Coca-Cola Tigers432023.465Quarterfinals
Welcoat Dragons36729.194Elimination round

Elimination rounds
TeamWLPCT
Red Bull Barako2214.611
Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants2016.556
Alaska Aces2016.556
Magnolia Beverage Masters2016.556
Sta. Lucia Realtors1917.528
Air21 Express1917.528
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals1818.500
Barangay Ginebra Kings1818.500
Coca-Cola Tigers1719.472
Welcoat Dragons729.194

Playoffs
TeamWLPCT
Barangay Ginebra Kings104.714
Sta. Lucia Realtors108.556
Air21 Express87.533
Red Bull Barako98.529
Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants78.467
Coca-Cola Tigers34.429
Magnolia Beverage Masters47.364
Talk 'N Text Phone Pals12.333
Alaska Aces36.333
Welcoat Dragons00--

References
  1. 'Sonny' Barrios picked PBA OIC, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed August 13, 2007.
  2. Artadi now a Gin King after feud with Purefoods coaches, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed September 23, 2007.
  3. Yeo now a Realtor, PBA.ph. Accessed September 23, 2007.
  4. SEIGLE FINED P10,000 FOR TUNEUP GAME SCUFFLE, PBA.ph. Accessed October 15, 2007.
  5. NEW RULES TO INJECT MORE EXCITEMENT TO 33RD PBA SEASON
  6. SLAPPED ONE-GAME SUSPENSION, ESCAPES FINE, PBA.ph
  7. CAREER GAME FOR JUNTHY AS RED BULL OUTPLAYS WELCOAT, PBA.ph
  8. PUREFOODS CONTINUES MASTERY OF WELCOAT, PBA.ph
  9. BELASCO TRIPLE LIFTS WELCOAT PAST TNT IN EXTRA TIME
  10. Asi shipped to Tigers for Peek, top pick Philippine Star via ABS-CBNNews.com
  11. Air21 acquires Espinas; Carey Cardona fined, suspended Archived 2008-01-17 at the Wayback Machine Philippine Daily Inquirer
  12. Red Bull whips Welcoat, keeps grip on No. 2
  13. BARRIOS NAMED PERMANENT COMMISSIONER PBA.ph
  14. Barrios accepts key PBA position by Musong R. Castillo, Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  15. BELASCO MOVES TO COCA-COLA FOR ISIP, DRAFT PICKS PBA.ph
  16. Garcia named Welcoat coach Archived 2012-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Inquirer.net
  17. Magnolia acquires 'Cool Cat' Cortez Inquirer.net
  18. ADDUCUL’S ILLNESS LEADS TO BIG 4-TEAM DEAL PBA.ph
  19. SE FINED P20,000 FOR 2 0FFENSES IN AIR21 – SLR GAME
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