2003 PBA Invitational Championship

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.

2003 PBA Invitational Championship
DurationJuly 27 – August 23, 2003
TV partner(s)NBN/IBC
Finals
ChampionsAlaska Aces
Runners-upCoca Cola Tigers
PBA Invitational Championship chronology
PBA conference chronology

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.

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]

Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Alaska Aces 4 0 1.000 — Qualify to Invitational Tournament
2 Barangay Ginebra Kings 2 2 .500 2
3 Sta. Lucia Realtors 2 2 .500 2
4 Shell Turbo Chargers 2 2 .500 2
5 Purefoods TJ Hotdogs 0 4 .000 4
Source: PBA.ph

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]

Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 FedEx Express 3 1 .750[lower-alpha 1] — Qualify to semifinals
2 Red Bull Barako 3 1 .750[lower-alpha 1] —
3 Talk 'N Text Phone Pals 3 1 .750[lower-alpha 1] —
4 KK Novi Sad (Yugoslavia) (G) 1 3 .250 2
5 Yonsei University (South Korea) (G) 0 4 .000 3
Source: PBA.ph
(G) Guest.
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head quotient: FedEx 1.032, Red Bull 1.025, Talk 'N Text 0.949

Group B
Pos Team W L PCT GB Qualification
1 Alaska Aces 4 0 1.000 — Qualify to semifinals
2 Coca-Cola Tigers 3 1 .750 1
3 San Miguel Beermen 2 2 .500 2
4 Cebuana Lhuillier (Philippine national team) (G) 1 3 .250 3
5 Magnolia-Jilin (China) (G) 0 4 .000 4
Source: PBA.ph
(G) Guest.
August 8
Alaska Aces 87, Cebuana Lhuillier 82

Bracket
  Semifinals     Finals
(Best-of-3)
                 
  A1 FedEx 83  
  B2 Coca-Cola 91    
      B2 Coca-Cola 1
      B1 Alaska 2
  B1 Alaska 95    
  A2 Red Bull 87   Third-place playoff
 
A1 FedEx 99
  A2 Red Bull 84

Semifinals

Third place playoff

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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