2005-06 PBA Fiesta Conference - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Second seed playoff

Bracket

Survivor playoffs

Air21–San Miguel series

Alaska–Sta. Lucia series

Red Bull–Alaska series

Talk 'N Text–Air21 series

Purefoods–Air21 series

Purefoods won the first two games, with Marquin Chandler

Marquin Chandler

Marquin Theo Jimmy Chandler is an American professional basketball forward.-Early life and college:Chandler was born in Berkeley, California, the oldest of three children, and graduated from Newark Memorial High School at Newark, California in 2000...

scoring 46 points in Game 1, and 29 in Game 2 to put the Giants up, 2–0. In Game 3, Air21's Ren-Ren Ritualo

Ren-Ren Ritualo

Florendo Ritualo, Jr. better known as Renren Ritualo is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Shopinas.com Clickers...

scored 40 points to prevent a sweep at Antipolo City

Antipolo City

Antipolo is a city in the Philippines located in the province of Rizal; about 25 kilometers east of Manila. It is the largest city in the Calabarzon Region in terms of population...

. The Express had an awful shooting night on Game 4 to pave way for a 3– series lead for Purefooods.

In the closing minutes of Game 5, Air21 had a 17–9 run, but Purefoods had their run thanks to a rare four-point play from Kerby Raymundo

Kerby Raymundo

Kerby Mariano Raymundo is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...

. Ranidel de Ocampo

Ranidel de Ocampo

Ranidel Rozal de Ocampo , better known as Ranidel de Ocampo, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. de Ocampo currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters after he was traded by Air21 Express. He is the younger brother of Yancy de Ocampo...

split his free-throws to pad Air21's lead into three. With Air21 up by one, Raymundo rebounded the ball with 11 seconds remaining, but Roger Yap

Roger Yap

Roger Yap is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association....

flubbed his pass and missed his lay-up against Shawn Daniels

Shawn Daniels

Shawn Daniels is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays in the National Basketball League of Canada for the London Lightning basketball team.-High school and college career:...

to give Air21 the victory. Purefoods erected a 20-point lead in Game 7, and Air21's run came up short as they entered the PBA Finals for the first time in four years.

Barangay Ginebra–Red Bull series

After losing Game 1, James Penny

James Penny

James Penny was a merchant, slaveship owner and prominent anti-abolitionist in Liverpool, England. He defended the slave trade to the British Parliament. Penny Lane in Liverpool, later immortalized by The Beatles, was named after him.-Early life:...

converted clutch three-pointers to prevent a 0–2 hole for Red Bull. Clutch plays from former Ateneo

Ateneo de Manila University

The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...

teammates Enrico Villanueva

Enrico Villanueva

Jose Enrico P. Villanueva , better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association...

and Larry Fonacier

Larry Fonacier

Larry Alexander N. Fonacier is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters...

prevented a Ginebra run late in the fourth quarter in Games 3 to 4 that placed Red Bull in an imposing 3–1 series lead. With Penny resting on Game 6, Ginebra had a difficult win to close the series gap to one game; Ginebra's defensive stand forced a Game 7, which put them on the way of replicating the Ginebra team of 15 seasons earlier when they won the championship after trailing 3–1.

With a seesaw battle ongoing throughout the game, Ginebra import Chris Porter

Chris Porter

Chris Porter is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Powerade Tigers of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is a former star forward for the Auburn University men's basketball team that made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1998-1999, Porter's junior season...

slam dunked to put Ginebra up, 75–73. Barako Celino Cruz

Celino Cruz

Celino Cruz is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers. He was drafted by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals nineteenth overall in 2002....

converted a three point shot to put Red Bull by a point, 76–75. Following a Ginebra turnover, Red Bull import James Penny converted his own 3-point jumper, to put Red Bull up for good, 79–75.

Third place playoff

Finals

(1) Purefoods Chunkee Giants

Purefoods Chunkee Giants

The B-Meg Llamados is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association owned by the San Miguel-Purefoods Company, Inc., a company of the San Miguel Corporation...

vs. (3) Red Bull Barako
Red Bull Barako
The Barako Bull Energy Boosters was a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association that is owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation...

: Barako win series, 4-2.

Series scoring summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers.
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"
!align=left width=28%|Team
!width=6%|Game 1†
!width=6%|Game 2
!width=6%|Game 3
!width=6%|Game 4
!width=6%|Game 5
!width=6%|Game 6

!width=6%|Wins
|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Purefoods
| 102 || 84 || 103 || 96 || 86 || 73 || 2

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Red Bull
| 107|| 98 || 97 || 91 || 91 || 81 || 4
|- style="text-align:center;"

|}
† denotes number of overtimes

Series schedule

Game One

Wednesday, February 8, at the Araneta Coliseum.

After conquering their respective semi-final rivals, the Giants and the Barako are both itching to win their first PBA titles in 4 years. Purefoods haven't won since the 2002 Governors' Cup, while Red Bull haven't won since the 2002 Commissioner's Cup.

The game was close throughout, with neither team pulling away. However, Red Bull ignited a run that would make them lead by 8 points at the third, but the Giants inched closer as they lessened the gap to a point. In the fourth quarter, Red Bull tried to pull away, but Purefoods fought back. In the dying seconds of regulation, with the score tied at 89-all, Purefoods import Marquin Chandler failed to convert an open jumper at the paint that could've won them the game.

In Overtime, Red Bull raced to an eight-point lead. In the final minute, Purefoods' Noy Castillo converted two three pointers that cut the lead to two. But a crucial turnover down low cost Purefoods the game.

In the marquee matchup, former Ateneo

Ateneo de Manila University

Blue Eagle Enrico Villanueva, with 25 points, won the matchup against former Letranite

Colegio de San Juan de Letran

The Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Letran College, or simply Letran is a private Roman Catholic institution of learning located in Intramuros, Manila, in the Philippines. The college was founded in 1620. Colegio de San Juan de Letran has the distinction of being the oldest college in the...

Kerby Raymundo, who finished with 11 markers.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"
!align=left width=28%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|OT
!width=6%|Tot.

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Purefoods
| 26 || 15 || 28 || 20 || 13 || 102

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Red Bull
| 24 || 21 || 25 || 19 || 18 || 107
|- style="text-align:center;"

|}

Game Two

Friday, February 10, at the Cuneta Astrodome

With a masterful conquest of Purefoods at Game One, third seed Red Bull Barako aimed to have a commanding 2-0 lead at the best of seven series.

The Barakos opened the game with relative ease, with the Chunkee Giants within striking distance. Purefoods stayed close through the efforts of import Marquin Chandler. However, Red Bull's import James Penny appeared to have an answer on every shot made by Chandler. By the start of the fourth, Purefoods led by a point, 71-70, after Red Bull erased an 8-point deficit.

The fourth quarter began with Purefoods keeping close with Red Bull. However, Red Bull answered with a 12-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by Larry Fonacier. Purefoods weren't able to erase the lead, leading to a 2-0 lead for Red Bull.

Chandler led all scorers with 32 points while Red Bull's former NU

National University (Philippines)

National University is a university in Manila, Philippines.It is a founding member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and is a pioneer of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities...

standout Lordy Tugade outscored all locals with 30 points.

Team	1	2	3	4	Tot.
Red Bull	27	19	24	28	98
Purefoods	25	24	22	13	84

Game Three

Sunday, February 12, at the Cuneta Astrodome

The last time Purefoods was down 0-2 at the Finals, they've rallied and won the next four games, clinching the 2002 Governors' Cup at the expense of the Alaska Aces.

Red Bull, on the other hand, is seeking for their third PBA championship, and the stopping of the four-conference championship streak of San Miguel Corporation

San Miguel Corporation

Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....

teams (in which Purefoods is a subsidiary).

The first quarter saw easy baskets from Red Bull against a virtually nonexistent Purefoods defense. Purefoods, on the other hand, had to work for their every basket. Purefoods then had problems when their import, Marquin Chandler, got into foul trouble, forcing the Chunkee Giants to play All-Filipino for a great part of the first half. The quarter ended with the score tied, 26-all.

On the second quarter, Purefoods made key defensive adjustments that limited Red Bull's scoring opportunities. The Chunkee Giants also had big contributions from their bench, especially from Marc Pingris, who scattered 8 markers at the 2nd quarter. The Barakos still relied on the frontline of Villanueva and Tugade, with the former Ateneo standout scoring 15 points at the first half. Purefoods, however, seized the momentum and erected a ten-point lead by halftime, 54-44.

The two teams settled down at the third quarter. James Penny, the former Texas Christian

Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...

and Oklahoma Storm

Oklahoma Storm

The Oklahoma Storm was a United States Basketball League team located in Enid, Oklahoma. Founded by sports agent and attorney James Sears Bryant, the Storm successfully captured the USBL championship under head coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2002, defeating Kansas with a final score of 122-109. The...

player posted big plays, including a three-point play. Red Bull utilized the foul problems of Purefoods. Nevertheless, the Giants still led, 77-68.

In the payoff period, Red Bull inched closer on every possession. With Red Bull down by six, Chandler and Fonacier had a scuffle at the half court line. This led to a technical foul for Chandler. Red Bull nipped the lead to four. But when the Chunkee Giants raised the lead back to ten, Chandler fouled out at the 3:49 mark, which led to a 5-0 run by Red Bull. A Raymundo assist to Jondan Salvador raised the lead by seven at the 1:00 mark, and Purefoods never looked back as they clinched their first victory in the Fiesta Conference Finals.

Chunkee Giant Kerby Raymundo finished the game with 13 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, a near triple-double. Villanueva led all locals with 25 points, while teammate Tugade had zero points in the second half to finish with 14 points. Penny won the battle of the imports, outscoring Chandler 31-26.

The halftime show featured the first part of the interview of ABC Sports

Associated Broadcasting Company

The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...

' Richard del Rosario to Kris Aquino

Kris Aquino

Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino , commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipino television and movie personality who gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. Known as the Queen of All Media and Philippines' Queen of Talk, she is the youngest daughter of...

and Purefoods sophomore James Yap, who are engaged to each other.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"
!align=left width=28%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Tot.

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Purefoods
| 26 || 28 || 23 || 26 || 103

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Red Bull
| 26 || 18 || 24 || 29 || 97
|- style="text-align:center;"

|}

Game Four

Wednesday, February 15, at the Araneta Coliseum

Before the game started, the league handed out its Best Player and Best Import of the Conference Award

Philippine Basketball Association Best Player of the Conference Award

The Philippine Basketball Association's Best Player of the Conference Award is given to the best local player at the end of each conference...

. The Best Player, restricted to Filipinos had a tighter race among Purefoods' Kerby Raymundo, Air21's Renren Ritualo, and Red Bull's Enrico Villanueva. The Best Import award, on the other hand, was contested between Purefoods' Marquin Chandler and Air21's Shawn Daniels.

Villanueva eventually won the Best Player award, when the PBA Press Corps voted him over Raymundo and Ritualo. The Best Import award, was in reality a no-contest since although Chandler and Daniels stayed with their clubs all-conference long, only Chandler was able to lead his team to the Finals.

On the game proper, just like in the previous three games, Red Bull got off to a good start when Chunkee Giant Jondan Salvador injured his knee. Penny and Villanueva combined for 25 points by halftime. However, Purefoods caught up with them at the third quarter, thanks to good shooting from Chandler and Noy Castillo.

On the fourth period, James Yap, who was celebrating his 24th birthday made clutch freethrows, much to the delight of fiancee Kris Aquino

Kris Aquino

. Further freethrows from Raymundo, James and Roger (not related) Yap gave the advantage to Purefoods. A dribbling violation by Red Bull import James Penny sealed the win for Purefoods.

In the post-game interview, Raymundo said that for him, he should be the MVP, his coach Ryan Gregorio, agreed wholeheartedly, as Raymundo brought Villanueva to school in the dying minutes of the game, especially at the low post. Raymundo finished the game with 21 points and 9 rebounds, and was chosen as the player of the game. Villanueva led all scorers with 25 points, and 14 rebounds.

{| border=1 cellspacing=0 width=425 style="margin-left:3em;"
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;"
!align=left width=28%|Team
!width=6%|1
!width=6%|2
!width=6%|3
!width=6%|4
!width=6%|Tot.

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Purefoods
| 21 || 17 || 25 || 33 || 96

|- style="text-align:center;"
|align=left|Red Bull
| 23 || 23 || 24 || 21 || 91
|- style="text-align:center;"

|}

Game Five

Friday, February 17, at the Araneta Coliseum

Red Bull Barako seemed intent from the get-go to prevent a 3-2 Purefoods series lead, as they, like in previous games, surged ahead at the first half. Red Bull, through the effort of import James Penny and locals Lordy Tugade and Junthy Valenzuela each converted a trey, to give the Bulls their biggest lead 50-34.

Best Player of the Conference Enrico Villanueva, although he finished with nine points, his lowest yet in the series, he grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. Penny and Rookie of the Year candidate Larry Fonacier carried the scoring load for the Bulls.

Best Import of the Conference Marquin Chandler, had another day in the office with a series-high 43 points, but he did not receive support from the locals, especially when the Bulls won the battle of the bench, 40-13.

The Barako never looked back in the second half, on their way for a 91-86 Game Five win. Tugade led all locals with 17 points, followed closely by Raymundo, with 16.

Team	1	2	3	4	Tot.
Purefoods	21	18	25	22	86
Red Bull	16	34	18	23	91

Game Six

Team	1	2	3	4	Tot.
Red Bull	11	25	27	20	83
Purefoods	24	16	17	16	73

2005-06 Fiesta Conference Champions
Red Bull Barako Red Bull Barako The Barako Bull Energy Boosters was a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association that is owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation... Third title

Broadcasters

The Associated Broadcasting Company

Associated Broadcasting Company

televised the games

PBA on ABC

The PBA on ABC was a presentation of Philippine Basketball Association games by the Associated Broadcasting Company...

on Philippine TV.

The play-by-play commentators are Mico Halili and Ed Picson, while the color commentator

Color commentator

A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...

s are Norman Black

Norman Black

Norman Augustus Black is an American retired professional basketball player in the CBA, NBA, and PBA who has since settled in the Philippines. He is also a former head coach of the San Miguel Beermen, Mobiline Phone Pals, Pop Cola 800s, and Sta. Lucia Realtors...

and Quinito Henson

Quinito Henson

Quinito Henson is a Filipino sports analyst and television color commentator. His newspaper column, Sporting Chance, has appeared in the Philippine Star since the 1980s...

. The courtside reporters are Richard del Rosario, Eric Reyes

Eric Reyes

Eric Reyes is a Puerto Rican international soccer player who plays college soccer for Florida International University, as a goalkeeper.-Career:...

, Jason Webb

Jason Webb

Jason Webb is a former professional soccer player and a Partner and Co-Founder of Soccer Shots, a national soccer program based in the Harrisburg, Pa. area that introduces children ages 3 – 8 to the game of soccer, as well as character development and fundamental life skills.Webb moved from...

and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon

Patricia Bermudez-Hizon

Patricia Bermudez-Hizon is a sportscaster and television host in the Philippines. She is the first ever female basketball television and radio anchor in the country. She started as a courtside reporter for the PBA in...

Trivia

Talk N' Text failed to enter the semifinals of a PBA tournament for the first time since the 2003 Invitational tournament.
Air21, technically, made its second semifinals appearance in franchise history. Apparently, TV coverors would always mentioned Air21's appearance as its first-time ever. In 2003 they placed third in the Invitational tournament.
Purefoods made its first semifinals appearance since winning the 2002 Governors Cup.
Barangay Ginebra played its first Game 7 since the 1991 Second Conference title, when the then-Ginebra San Miguel squad defeated Shell for the championship.

External links

Official PBA site

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