The 2016–17 PBA season was the 42nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The league continues to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup are the second and third conferences in the upcoming season.
The first event of the season was the 2016 PBA draft, held on October 30.Deadlines for PBA Rookie aspirants set, Randolph Leongson, PBA.inquirer.net, August 30, 2016
Executive board Andres Narvasa, Jr. (commissioner) Michael Romero (Chairman, representing GlobalPort Batang Pier) Ramoncito Fernandez (vice chairman, representing NLEX Road Warriors) Richard Bachmann (treasurer, representing Alaska Aces)
Teams Team Company Governor Coach Captain Alaska Aces Alaska Milk Corporation Richard Bachmann Alex Compton Sonny Thoss Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. Alfrancis Chua Tim Cone Mark Caguioa Blackwater Elite Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. Silliman Sy Leo Isaac Reil Cervantes GlobalPort Batang Pier Sultan 900 Capital, Inc. Eric Arejola Franz Pumaren Billy Mamaril Mahindra Floodbuster Columbian Autocar Corporation Tomas Alvarez Manny Pacquiao (Chris Gavina, interim) LA Revilla Meralco Bolts Manila Electric Company Al Panlilio Norman Black Chris Newsome NLEX Road Warriors Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Ramoncito Fernandez Yeng Guiao Asi Taulava Phoenix Fuel Masters Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. Dennis Uy Ariel Vanguardia Willy Wilson Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. Mamerto Mondragon Caloy Garcia Gabe Norwood San Miguel Beermen San Miguel Brewery, Inc. Robert Non Leo Austria Arwind Santos Star Hotshots San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. Rene Pardo Chito Victolero Rafi Reavis TNT KaTropa Smart Communications Victorico Vargas Nash Racela Ranidel de Ocampo
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in standings Replaced with Date of appointmentGlobalPort Batang Pier Johnedel Cardel Demoted to assistant coach Preseason Franz Pumaren November 25, 2016
Arenas Like several Metro Manila-centric leagues, most games are held at arenas within Metro Manila, either the Smart Araneta Coliseum or the Mall of Asia Arena, and sometimes, in the Ynares Center in Antipolo. Games outside this area are called "out-of-town" games, and are usually played on Saturdays. Provincial arenas usually host one game, rarely two; these arenas typically host only once per season, but a league may return within a season if the turnout is satisfactory.
Typically, all playoff games are held in Metro Manila arenas, although playoff and finals games have been seldom played in the provinces.
Main arenas
Arena CityCuneta Astrodome PasayFiloil Flying V Centre San JuanMall of Asia Arena PasayPhilSports Arena PasigSmart Araneta Coliseum Quezon CityYnares Center Antipolo
Out-of-town arenas
Highlighted are playoff games. Arena City Date Match-up Xavier University Gym Cagayan de Oro December 17, 2016 San Miguel vs. NLEXPhilippine Arena Bocaue, Bulacan December 25, 2016 Mahindra vs. BlackwaterBarangay Ginebra vs. Star October 22, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. Meralco October 25, 2017 October 27, 2017Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena Angeles City January 7, 2017 NLEX vs. TNTSeptember 2, 2017 San Miguel vs. AlaskaUniversity of San Agustin Gym Iloilo City January 14, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. MeralcoHoops Dome Lapu-Lapu City January 21, 2017 GlobalPort vs. San MiguelAugust 26, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. AlaskaQuezon Convention Center Lucena February 26, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. San MiguelOctober 13, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. Meralco Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium Tubod, Lanao del Norte March 25, 2017 Star vs. GlobalPort University of Southeastern Philippines Gym Davao City April 1, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. PhoenixBatangas City Sports Center Batangas City May 6, 2017 Rain or Shine vs. StarOctober 4, 2017 TNT vs. Barangay Ginebra Ibalong Centrum for Recreation Legazpi, Albay May 20, 2017 TNT vs. AlaskaAlonte Sports Arena Biñan May 26, 2017 Rain or Shine vs. GlobalPortBarangay Ginebra vs. BlackwaterOctober 1, 2017 Star vs. Meralco Calasiao Sports Complex Calasiao, Pangasinan August 5, 2017 Barangay Ginebra vs. NLEXSanta Rosa Sports Complex Santa Rosa, Laguna September 9, 2017 Star vs. MeralcoOctober 3, 2017
Transactions
Retirement September 10, 2016: Michael Burtscher announced his retirement after playing 5 seasons in the PBA.Post on Facebook November 3, 2016: Jimmy Alapag announced his retirement after playing 13 seasons in the PBA. November 18, 2016: Yousef Taha announced that he had left the country back to his hometown Kuwait, thereby ending his PBA career. Taha, though not officially retiring, said that he left for personal reasons and "he felt that it is best for him to not continue his PBA career". Taha played for five different teams in his 4 seasons in the league. However, he returned to the country to play again a year later. November 19, 2016: Nelbert Omolon announced his retirement after playing 12 seasons in the PBA to focus on his agribusiness career. November 27, 2016: Eddie Laure announced his retirement after playing 12 seasons in the PBA to focus on new role as coach for UST.Eddie Laure finally steps away from PBA at 39, focuses on new role as coach Reuben Terrado, spin.ph December 15, 2016: Rob Reyes announced his retirement after playing 8 seasons in the PBA. May 7, 2017: Eric Menk announced his retirement after playing 16 seasons in the PBA. September 2, 2017: Mick Pennisi announced his retirement after playing 17 seasons in the PBA.
Coaching changes
Offseason October 7, 2016: Yeng Guiao resigned as coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Assistant coach Caloy Garcia takes over as head coach of the Elasto Painters. Guiao was then signed as the head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors replacing Boyet Fernandez, who will still be with NLEX on a different capacity. PBA: NLEX signs Yeng Guiao as head coach , Paolo del Rosario, CNN Philippines, October 7, 2016 October 14, 2016: Star Hotshots head coach Jason Webb was appointed as team consultant. Chito Victolero will take over as the Hotshots' head coach.Chito Victolero replaces Jason Webb, takes over as new Star head coach, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, October 14, 2016 October 22, 2016: TNT KaTropa appointed Nash Racela to be its head coach replacing Jong Uichico.Nash Racela officially gets TNT KaTropa coaching post, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, October 22, 2016
Philippine Cup November 25, 2016: GlobalPort Batang Pier formally appointed team consultant Franz Pumaren to be its head coach replacing Johnedel Cardel, who was then relegated as an assistant coach.Franz Pumaren starts calling shots for Globalport in Philippine Cup debut against Mahindra, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, November 25, 2016
Notable events Pre-season The Mahindra Enforcer silently changed their name to Mahindra Floodbuster. The team's new logo debuted during the league's annual draft. November 14 – The PBA officially launched its own smartphone application named "PBA: The App" which is currently available on Google Play and Apple App Store. The app featured news articles, scores, schedules, stats of the games and profiles of the teams and players.
Philippine Cup December 25 – The league held its Christmas games at the Philippine Arena, featuring games between Blackwater Elite vs Mahindra Floodbuster and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel vs Star Hotshots. This is the second time the league held its games at the venue.Philippine Arena eyed as venue for Christmas Day game between Ginebra and Star, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, November 28, 2016 The San Miguel Beermen won their third straight Philippine Cup championship against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, four games to one. The Beermen also became the second PBA franchise to keep permanent possession of the Jun Bernardino Trophy.San Miguel wins Perpetual trophy at the expense of Ginebra, Paul Lintag, ABS-CBN Sports, March 5, 2017
Commissioner's Cup The league took two week-long breaks during the Commissioner's Cup: first during the All-Star Week (April 26 to 30) and second during the Philippines' hosting of the SEABA Championship (May 12 to 18). A different All-Star Week format was adopted for this season. Three PBA All-Star teams, one each with players representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao pitted against Gilas Pilipinas, the men's national basketball team. Gilas Pilipinas players played for the PBA All-Star team if they hail to the game's host region. PBA Chairman Mikee Romero was issued with a warrant of arrest by the Manila Regional Trial Court over allegations that he stole P3.4 million from his family's company Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc.Legal family feud not valid issue to unseat Romero, says Cong. Pineda , Fox Sports Philippines, April 5, 2017 While Romero will remain as the PBA Chairman, Ramoncito Fernandez of the NLEX Road Warriors will be the acting chairman of the board of governors during Romero's absence.Romero remains PBA chairman – Narvasa, Josef Ramos, The Manila Times, February 7, 2017 April 28 – After the Luzon leg of the All-Star Week, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes announced the 12 man lineup that will compete for the SEABA Championship. Subsequently, the All-Star Game team lineups for the Visayas leg scheduled on April 30 were altered. June Mar Fajardo and Terrence Romeo, originally supposed to play for the PBA Visayas All-Stars were transferred to the Gilas Pilipinas team. LA Tenorio and Rabeh Al-Hussaini replaced them in the PBA Visayas All-Stars lineup. May 28 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wore their throwback 1991 Ginebra San Miguel jerseys in honor of the team who won the 1991 First Conference championship coming from a 1–3 deficit.Modern-day Ginebra players take pride in wearing retro jersey of iconic 1991 team, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, May 28, 2017 June 14 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wore their throwback 1996 Ginebra San Miguel jerseys.
Governors' Cup The Mahindra Floodbuster changed their name to Kia Picanto. The team's new logo and uniforms debuted at the opening day of the Governors' Cup on July 19. August 26 – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel wore their throwback 2001 Barangay Ginebra Kings jerseys in honor of the team who won PBA championships from 2004 to 2008. October 22 – Game 5 of the Governors' Cup finals between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco held at the Philippine Arena set the all-time PBA finals attendance record of 36,445, breaking the previous record of 23,436 fans during Game 3 of the 2013 Commissioner's Cup between Alaska and Barangay Ginebra.Game 5 at PH Arena sets attendance record in PBA Finals game, Randolf Leongson, Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 22, 2017 October 25 – 53,642 fans attended game 6 of the Governors' Cup finals at the Philippine Arena. This record broke the finals attendance record as well as the all-time overall attendance record of 52,612, set during the opening of 2014–15 season on October 19, 2014.Game 6 of Ginebra-Meralco finals sets new all-time PBA attendance record, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, October 25, 2017 October 27 – Game 7 of the Governors' Cup finals broke the records set on October 22 and 25 as 54,086 fans watched the series clinching game between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco.PBA crowd record: Ginebra-Meralco Finals Game 7 draws 54,086, Mark Escalorte, ABS-CBN Sports, October 27, 2017
Opening ceremonies The opening ceremonies for this season was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on November 20, 2016. The first game of the Philippine Cup between the Star Hotshots and the San Miguel Beermen immediately followed.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows: