2007–08 Red Bull Barako Season

The 2007–08 Red Bull Barako season was the 8th season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Key dates

*August 19: The 2007 PBA draft took place in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Draft picks

Roster

Season

Philippine Cup

Team standings

Schedule

Bracket

Quarterfinals: (4) Red Bull vs. (5) Magnolia

Elimination round games: Red Bull won both games, 94-88 and 107-95.Magnolia and Red Bull renewed their playoffs rivalry with Red Bull forcing the upset, as Magnolia was rated as the top team during the preseason, with Red Bull being decimated by one-sided trades (ironically to Magnolia). Cyrus Baguio had a coming-out party as he scored a career-high 31 points to win Game 1 for the Bulls. Junthy Valenzuela outplayed former Red Bull players Lordy Tugade and Enrico Villanueva to sweep the Beverage Masters.

The Bulls now clinch their sixth consecutive semifinals appearance.

Semifinals: (1) Purefoods vs. (4) Red Bull

Elimination round games: Red Bull won both games, 87-74 and 97-84.Purefoods, owing to a couple of weeks' rest blew out Red Bull which had defeated last season's finalists in Game 1. However, Red Bull came back in Game 2 to put up a defensive stand in the fourth quarter to tie the series, 2-2. Team captain Junthy Valenzuela kept the Giants at bay when they were making a run in the final minutes, scoring 2 crucial baskets. Purefoods then did their own pull-away at Game 3, crashing the boards at will; Marc Pingris rebounded a career-high 19 boards.

With a 1-3 series deficit looming, Red Bull again kept a pace with Purefoods in Game 4; however James Yap injured his groin in the first quarter after scoring ten points and didn't return. Purefoods managed to hold-off Red Bull until Cyrus Baguio drove to the basket after a pick-and-roll for an unmolested lay-up to tie the game 86-all. Peter June Simon missed his baseline jumper as time ran out to force overtime. In the extra period, Red Bull made an 11-2 run care of three pointers from Celino Cruz and Francis Adriano to tie the series once again.

After the injury to Yap, Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio announced prior to Game 5 that Yap would be day-to-day.CRUCIAL WEDNESDAY DOUBLEHEADER AT THE BIG DOME
PBA.ph However, Yap started on Game 5 and Purefoods raced to a 40-17 lead after the first quarter. Red Bull crept up the lead and eventually cut down the lead to two with a minute to go thanks to a trey from Mick Pennisi. In the ensuing possession, Pingris was fouled on the act of shooting; Pingris missed both of his freethrows to give Red Bull another chance. After the time out and with both teams in penalty, Valenzuela was fouled. Valenzuela converted the first but missed the second, which led to a Kerby Raymundo rebound that sealed the win for the Giants.

Needing to win twice in a row to enter the finals, Red Bull started Game 6 with a 20-1 blast that caught Purefoods flatfooted. The Bulls then cruised on, with Mike Hrabak and Pennisi shooting treys to tie the series for last time, at 3-all.RED BULL FORGES DO-OR-DIE GAME 7
PBA.ph However, Purefoods started out Game 7 strong but the Barakos answered every Giants run to keep pace; however, thanks to misses from the perimeter by Red Bull and Purefoods' transition defense, the Giants were able to clinch their league-leading 12th All-Filipino Cup finals appearance.

Third-place playoff

Fiesta Conference

Team standings

Schedule

Bracket

Semifinals: (2) Red Bull vs. (3) Barangay Ginebra

Third place playoff

Transactions

Trades

Additions

Subtractions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2007-08 Red Bull Barako Season
Barako Bull Energy Boosters seasons
Red Bull