The 2008 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference, also known as the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, was the last conference of the 2007-08 PBA season. The tournament began on March 29 with a game between the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals at Panabo, Davao del Norte. Opening ceremonies were held the day after at the Araneta Coliseum.
All ten teams are permitted to acquire one non-Filipino (the "import") of unlimited height as reinforcement. Furthermore, the two worst performers in the elimination round of the previous conference (the Coca-Cola Tigers and the Welcoat Dragons), will also be able to acquire another import but with a height limit of .
Tournament format Double round eliminations. Worst team would be eliminated. Sixth- to ninth-best teams figure in the one-game wildcard playoffs. Sixth seed vs. Ninth seed Seventh seed vs. Eighth seed Winners will figure in a playoff to advance to the quarterfinals. Third- to fifth-best teams, and the winner of the wildcards advance to the best-of-three quarterfinals. Third seed vs. winner of wildcards. Fourth seed vs. fifth seed. The two best teams and the winners of the quarterfinals advance to the best-of-seven semifinals. First seed vs. winner of the third seed/wildcard winner quarterfinal series Second seed vs. winner of the fourth seed/fifth seed quarterfinal series The winners of the semifinals advance to the best-of-seven Finals; the losers figure in a one-game third-place playoff.
Elimination round
Team standings
Schedule
Bracket
Wildcard phase
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
(3) Barangay Ginebra vs. (9) Sta. Lucia
(4) Coca-Cola vs. (5) Magnolia
Semifinals
(1) Air21 vs. (5) Magnolia
(2) Red Bull vs. (3) Barangay Ginebra
Third place playoff
Finals
Awards Finals Most Valuable Player: Ronald Tubid and Eric Menk (Barangay Ginebra) Best Player of the Conference: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra) Best Import of the Conference: Chris Alexander (Barangay Ginebra) Players of the Week: March 29-April 6: Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia) April 7–13: Danny Seigle (Magnolia) April 14–20: Cyrus Baguio (Red Bull) April 22-May 4: Mark Cardona (Talk 'N Text) May 5–11: Asi Taulava (Coca-Cola) & Rob Wainwright (Welcoat) May 12–18: Willie Miller (Alaska) May 19–25: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra) May 26-June 1: Gary David (Air21) June 2–8: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra) June 9–15: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra) June 16–22: Lordy Tugade (Magnolia) & Ren-Ren Ritualo (Talk 'N Text) June 23–29: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra) June 30–July 6: Gary David (Air21) & Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra) July 7–July 13: Joseph Yeo (Sta. Lucia) July 14–July 20: none July 21–July 27: Mark Caguioa (Barangay Ginebra) July 28–August 3: Gary David (Air21)
Imports The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics. Highlighted are the imports who stayed with their respective teams for the whole conference. # Name Team Debuted 1 Calvin Cage Coca-Cola Tigers March 29 vs. Talk 'N Text 2 Jason Dixon Coca-Cola Tigers March 29 vs. Talk 'N Text 3 Aaron McGhee Talk 'N Text Phone Pals March 29 vs. Coca-Cola 4 Steve Thomas Air21 Express March 30 vs. Welcoat 5 Jason Keep Welcoat Dragons March 30 vs. Air21 6 Cory Santee Welcoat Dragons March 30 vs. Air21 7 Adam Parada Red Bull Barako March 30 vs. Brgy. Ginebra 8 Rahshon Turner Barangay Ginebra Kings March 30 vs. Red Bull 9 Wesley Wilson Sta. Lucia Realtors April 2 vs. Alaska 10 Randy Holcomb Alaska Aces April 2 vs. Sta. Lucia 11 Darius Rice Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants April 2 vs. Magnolia 12 Jameel Watkins Magnolia Beverage Masters April 2 vs. Purefoods 13 Marquis Gainous Welcoat Dragons April 9 vs. Coca-Cola 14 Ernest Brown Barangay Ginebra Kings April 12 vs. Sta. Lucia 15 George Gervin, Jr. Coca-Cola Tigers April 13 vs. Air21 16 Chris Alexander Barangay Ginebra Kings May 2 vs. Purefoods 17 Reda Rhalimi Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants May 10 vs. Alaska 18 Donald Copeland Coca-Cola Tigers May 23 vs. Red Bull 19 Jamar Brown Sta. Lucia Realtors June 1 vs. Air21 20 Lee Benson, Jr. Sta. Lucia Realtors June 13 vs. Magnolia 21 Amal McCaskill Magnolia Beverage Masters June 13 vs. Sta. Lucia 22 Terrence Leather Talk 'N Text Phone Pals June 13 vs. Air21 23 Alex Compton Welcoat Dragons June 18 vs. Air21 24 Brandon Dean Coca-Cola Tigers July 13 vs. Magnolia
External links Philippine Basketball Association official website