2003 PBA Invitational championship explained

Year:2003
Conference Name:Invitational championship
Duration:July 27 – August 23, 2003
Tv:NBN/IBC
Best Player:Ali Peek
Finals Mvp:Brandon Cablay
Champion:Alaska Aces
Runner-Up:Coca Cola Tigers
Prevconf Link:1984 PBA Invitational championship
Prevconf Year:1984
Prev Conf:2003 All-Filipino
Prev Conf Link:2003 PBA All-Filipino Cup
Next Conf:2003 Reinforced
Next Conf Link:2003 PBA Reinforced Conference

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 by beating the Coca Cola Tigers, 2-1, in their best-of-three finals series.[1]

Brandon Cablay won on his first Finals MVP in Invitational Cup championship.

Qualification

PBA Philippine Cup

Samsung-PBA Mabuhay Cup

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 second conference Invitationals.

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

Elimination round

Group A

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

Finals

Year:2003
Conference:Invitational championship
Champion Games:2
Runnerup Games:1
Date:August 17–30 2003
Prev Conf:2003 All-Filipino

The 2003 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Invitational Conference finals was the best-of-3 basketball championship series of the 2003 PBA Invitational Conference, and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. Alaska Aces and Coca-Cola Tigers played for the 85th championship contested by the league.

Alaska Aces won their 11th championship.

Series scoring summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.

align=left width=28%Teamwidth=6%Game 1width=6%Game 2width=6%Game 3 width=6%Wins
Alaska81 7691 2
Coca-Cola94 78 86 1
† denotes the number of overtimes

Scores

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]

External links

Notes and References

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