The 2020 PBA season or PBA Season 45 was the 45th season of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Due to the major adjustments in the last season's league calendar, the start of the league's 45th season was set on March 1, 2020, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.PBA yearend awards to be handed out again on season opening night, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, January 14, 2020 However, the start of the 2020 season has been delayed until at least March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PBA Leo Awards for the 2019 season were held before the opening ceremonies. The first official activity for this season was the 2019 PBA draft, held before the semifinals of the 2019 PBA Governors' Cup.Columbian nabs Isaac Go as No. 1 pick in PBA Draft 2019, Delfin Dioquino, Rappler, December 8, 2019
The season was suspended on March 11, three days after its opening ceremonies, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
The league initially planned to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were supposed to be the second and third conferences for this season.
On September 17, the PBA Board of Governors have approved a plan to restart the season on October 11 (originally on October 9), then was given a provisional approval by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on September 24. All games were played in the "PBA bubble" in Angeles City, the isolation zone specifically created for league operations.PBA to hold 'bubble season' at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, September 17, 2020IATF provisional clearance paves way for PBA scrimmages, games in Clark bubble, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, September 24, 2020
This was first time that the league played only one tournament or conference in a season.
Since the season only had one conference, the Most Valuable Player was not awarded. In lieu of the Leo Awards usually given at the end of the season, the league held a special awards night on January 17, 2021, to award the Best Player of the Conference, Outstanding Rookie, Most Improved Player, Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award and Outstanding/Elite Five.PBA won't name MVP in bubble; will award Best Player of Conference instead, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, December 3, 2020
Executive board Commissioner: Willie Marcial Chairman: Ricky Vargas (Representing TNT Tropang Giga) Vice-Chairman: Demosthenes Rosales (Representing Terrafirma Dyip) Treasurer: Silliman Sy (Representing Blackwater Elite)
Teams Team Company Governor Coach Captain Alaska Aces Alaska Milk Corporation Richard Bachmann Jeffrey Cariaso JVee Casio Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. Alfrancis Chua Tim Cone LA Tenorio Blackwater Elite Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. Silliman Sy Nash Racela Mike Cortez Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc. Rene Pardo Chito Victolero Rafi Reavis Meralco Bolts Manila Electric Company Al Panlilio Norman Black Reynel Hugnatan NLEX Road Warriors Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Rodrigo Franco Yeng Guiao Asi Taulava NorthPort Batang Pier Sultan 900 Capital, Inc. Eric Arejola Pido Jarencio Sean Anthony Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. Raymond Zorrilla Topex Robinson Matthew Wright Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Asian Coatings Philippines, Inc. Mamerto Mondragon Caloy Garcia Beau Belga San Miguel Beermen San Miguel Brewery, Inc. Robert Non Leo Austria Arwind Santos Terrafirma Dyip Terrafirma Realty Development Corporation Demosthenes Rosales Johnedel Cardel Glenn Khobuntin TNT Tropang Giga Smart Communications Ricky Vargas Bong Ravena Jayson Castro
Player quotas Filipino-foreigners The PBA allows for each team to have up to five players classified as "Filipino-foreigners" in their roster. Filipino-foreigners are natural born Filipinos born outside the Philippines.
Team Country of birth Alaska Aces Robbie Herndon Michael DiGregorio Maverick Ahanmisi Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Joe Devance Jared Dillinger Stanley Pringle Blackwater Elite Matt Salem Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok Rome dela Rosa Rafi Reavis Kyle Pascual Meralco Bolts Cliff Hodge Trevis Jackson Chris Newsome NLEX Road Warriors Anthony Semerad Asi Taulava Paul Varilla NorthPort Batang Pier Christian Standhardinger Sean Anthony Sean Manganti Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Matthew Wright Alex Mallari Jason Perkins Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Gabe Norwood Norbert Torres Adrian Wong San Miguel Beermen Marcio Lassiter Chris Ross Moala Tautuaa Terrafirma Dyip Andreas Cahilig Roosevelt Adams Rashawn McCarthy CJ Perez TNT Tropang Giga David Semerad Harvey Carey Simon Enciso
Imports There are no imports who played for the 2020 PBA season due to the cancellation of the Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup.
Arenas In a usual PBA season, 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.
Only one game day was done prior to the suspension of league activities due to COVID-19 pandemic; this was the opening day game held after the opening ceremonies at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After the league decided to resume the season under a bubble setup, it was decided that the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone in Pampanga shall host the bubble, with the Angeles University Foundation hosting the actual games.
Quezon CityAngeles CitySmart Araneta Coliseum AUF Sports & Cultural Center Note 1. For marketing purposes, games which took place in Angeles, within the PBA Bubble, were said to take place in "Smart Clark Giga City". The AUF Sports & Cultural Center was likewise rebranded as "AUF Sports Arena Powered by Smart 5G".
Transactions
Retirement In February 2020, Yancy de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 6 franchises in his 17 seasons in the league. On April 14, 2020, Ranidel de Ocampo announced his retirement from the PBA. De Ocampo played for 3 franchises in his 16 seasons in the league. On September 7, 2020, Kelly Williams announced his retirement from the PBA. Williams played for 2 franchises in his 14 seasons in the league. On September 22, 2020, Peter June Simon announced his retirement from the PBA. Simon played for the Magnolia Hotshots in his 16 seasons in the league.
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced with Date of appointment Ref.Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Louie Alas Fired September 11, 2020 Topex Robinson (interim) September 11, 2020
Notable events November 22, 2019: Ricky Vargas of TNT KaTropa was re-elected for a third consecutive term as the Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip was elected as Vice Chairman while Silliman Sy of Blackwater Elite was elected as treasurer.Ricky Vargas reelected PBA chairman to a third term; BoG extend Draft list-up for Fil-foreign players, PBA.ph, November 22, 2019 February 5: Reigning five-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo suffered a leg injury, fracturing his right tibia during their team practice.San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo suffers leg fracture, out indefinitely, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 5, 2020 February 9: Greg Slaughter announced through his Instagram account that his contract with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel had expired and he will take an indefinite leave from basketball. Greg Slaughter takes indefinite break from basketball, Luisa Morales, The Philippine Star, February 9, 2020 The start of the 2020 season was postponed to March 8 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening ceremonies were originally scheduled on March 1. June 4: The PBA Board of Governors approved the transfer of ownership of the Columbian Dyip franchise from Columbian Autocar Corporation to its sister company, Terrafirma Realty Development Corporation. The team will carry the Terrafirma brand.Dyip set to carry Terra Firma banner, PBA.ph, June 4, 2020 June 16: TNT KaTropa assistant coach Tab Baldwin was slapped with a three-game suspension plus a P75,000 fine by the commissioner's office for his comments on the league's officiating, tournament format and assessment of local coaches during a podcast.Tab Baldwin fined P75,000, suspended three games by PBA, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, June 16, 2020 On June 25, he was fired by TNT as their assistant coach.Tab Baldwin fired from TNT coaching post—sources, Bong Lozada, Philippine Daily Inquirer, June 25, 2020 July 6: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel's Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters's Adrian Wong were fined P20,000 each after both players were seen playing five-on-five basketball a week earlier. They were also ordered to undergo a swab test and take a 14-day quarantine.Wong fined P20K by PBA, ordered to take swab test, Mark Giongco, Philippine Daily Inquirer, July 6, 2020 The league announced on March that all player practices are banned indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. July 15: Blackwater Elite team owner Dioceldo Sy announced that he is planning to sell their PBA franchise for P150 million. Blackwater eyes PBA exit, puts franchise up for sale for P150M, Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star, July 15, 2020 This is after the PBA and the Games and Amusements Board considered to give sanctions against the team for violating league and health protocols following the alleged workout the team did on July 11. PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial slapped a P100,000 fine and required all players to undergo a swab-test.Blackwater owner Sy 'offended, deeply hurt' by PBA, GAB actions, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, July 17, 2020 August 1: The Blackwater Elite will be renamed as the "Blackwater Bossing" starting in the 2021 season.Goodbye, Elite. Hello, Bossing as Blackwater to adopt new moniker, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, August 1, 2020 Team owner Dioceldo Sy also retracted his plan to sell the team's franchise.Blackwater upgrades from Elite to Bossing, Justine Bacnis, Tiebreaker Times, August 1, 2020 September 26: The TNT KaTropa will be renamed as the "TNT Tropang Giga" upon the resumption of the Philippine Cup on October 11.TnT carries Tropang Giga moniker heading to PBA Clark bubble, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, September 26, 2020 September 30: The PBA D-League's Aspirants' Cup has been officially cancelled. Majority of the participating teams have collegiate or amateur players and the IATF-EID only allowed professional players to participate in practices and scrimmages.As PBA gears up for resumption, D-League cancels season, Randolph Leongson, spin.ph, September 30, 2020 October 16: The San Miguel Beermen wore their throwback 1992 jerseys for the first time. The retro jerseys, which also features the PBA logo used from 1989 to 1992, will be worn in select games for the duration of the Philippine Cup in honor of the 130th anniversary of the San Miguel Pale Pilsen product.LOOK: Throwback 90s jerseys which SMB will wear inside PBA bubble, Reuben Terrado, spin.ph, October 3, 2020 October 21: The league announced that a referee tested positive for COVID-19. October 24: The Alaska Aces wore their throwback 1996 jerseys in honor of the team that won the franchise's grand slam.Alaska unveils '96 grand slam retro jersey in game against old rival SMB, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, October 24, 2020