The 2023–24 PBA season (or PBA season 48) was the 48th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Due to the participation of Philippine men's national basketball team in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2022 Asian Games, the PBA season started on November 5, 2023 and would only have two conferences, first being the Commissioner's Cup, followed by the season-ending Philippine Cup.
Opening day was originally scheduled on October 15, but was moved three weeks past the original date to give the players who participated in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2022 Asian Games time to rest and recover.
The first activity of the season was the PBA season 48 draft, held on September 17.
Executive board Commissioner: Willie Marcial Chairman: Ricky Vargas (Representing TNT Tropang Giga) Vice-chairman: Demosthenes Rosales (Representing Terrafirma Dyip) Treasurer: Raymond Zorrilla (Representing Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters)
Teams Changes from previous season: The Bay Area Dragons, franchise team for the East Asia Super League, were rebranded as the "Chun Yu Bay Area Dragons", and were to return to play in the Commissioner's Cup as a guest team, having played in the same conference during the previous season. However, they were disbanded prior to the start of the first conference. Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters were rebranded as the "Phoenix Fuel Masters" prior to the Philippine Cup. TeamCompanyGovernorCoachCaptainBarangay Ginebra San MiguelGinebra San Miguel, Inc.Alfrancis ChuaTim ConeJared DillingerBlackwater BossingEver Bilena Cosmetics, Inc.Silliman SyJeffrey CariasoJVee CasioConverge FiberXersConverge ICTArchen CayabyabAldin AyoKevin RacalMagnolia Chicken Timplados HotshotsSan Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.Rene PardoChito VictoleroRafi ReavisMeralco BoltsManila Electric CompanyAl PanlilioLuigi TrilloRaymond AlmazanNLEX Road WarriorsMetro Pacific Investments CorporationRodrigo FrancoFrankie LimKevin AlasNorthPort Batang PierSultan 900 Capital, Inc.Eric ArejolaBonnie TanJeff ChanPhoenix Fuel MastersPhoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.Raymond ZorrillaJamike JarinRJ JazulRain or Shine Elasto PaintersAsian Coatings Philippines, Inc.Mamerto MondragonYeng GuiaoGabe NorwoodSan Miguel BeermenSan Miguel Brewery, Inc.Robert NonJorge GallentChris RossTerrafirma DyipTerrafirma Realty Development CorporationDemosthenes RosalesJohnedel CardelEric CamsonTNT Tropang GigaSmart CommunicationsRicky VargasChot ReyesKelly Williams
Arenas Under the new normal, the PBA has resumed playing in venues in Metro Manila and Rizal. The PBA also released its schedule showing its first "out-of-town" games since the pandemic, with five game days held in the provinces.
Main arenas ArenaCityCapacitySM Mall of Asia ArenaPasay20,000Araneta ColiseumQuezon City14,429PhilSports ArenaPasig10,000Ynares CenterAntipolo, Rizal7,400Rizal Memorial ColiseumManila6,100Ninoy Aquino StadiumManila6,000Caloocan Sports ComplexCaloocan3,000Ynares Sports ArenaPasig3,000
Out-of-town arenas ArenaCity/TownDateMatch-upTiaong Convention CenterTiaong, QuezonNovember 25, 2023Converge vs. San MiguelApril 20, 2024Rain or Shine vs. MagnoliaFPJ ArenaSan Jose, BatangasDecember 9, 2023Phoenix Super LPG vs. Barangay GinebraMay 31, 2024Meralco vs. Barangay GinebraAquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention CenterCagayan de OroDecember 16, 2023Rain or Shine vs. MagnoliaApril 27, 2024Converge vs. Barangay GinebraUniversity of San Agustin GymnasiumIloilo CityJanuary 6, 2024Magnolia vs. MeralcoIbalong Centrum for RecreationLegazpi, AlbayJanuary 13, 2024Barangay Ginebra vs. NLEXCandon City ArenaCandon, Ilocos SurApril 13, 2024TNT vs. NLEXBatangas City Sports CenterBatangas CityMay 4, 2024San Miguel vs. MeralcoDasmariñas ArenaDasmariñas, CaviteMay 22, 2024Rain or Shine vs. San MiguelMeralco vs. Barangay Ginebra
Transactions
Retirement On May 12, 2023, Reynel Hugnatan formally retired after being signed by the Meralco Bolts as one of its assistant coaches. Hugnatan played for three teams in his 19 seasons in the league.
Coaching changes Team Previous coach Replacement Ref. Blackwater Bossing Ariel Vanguardia (interim) Jeffrey Cariaso Meralco Bolts Norman Black Luigi Trillo Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Jamike Jarin (interim) Jamike Jarin
Rule changes The PBA competition committee approved the rule changes for implementation starting in the Commissioner's Cup games: Rule changes (effective for the 2023–24 PBA Commissioner's Cup) Players are no longer allowed to call timeouts Coach's challenge is now in effect. A coach can contest a call once. If the challenge is successful, the coach will be given another coach's challenge. Challengeable calls are act of shooting or sideline throw-in, foul (common foul, charging or blocking), traveling, flopping, 8 second violation, backcourt violation, held ball, out-of-bounds or last touch and shot clock remaining. If an intentional foul will be committed by a defensive player during fastbreak opportunity, the offensive team will be given one free throw plus ball possession.
Notable events
Pre-season Several players were sanctioned by their respective teams and the PBA due to numerous ligang labas infractions. Due to the long off-season, the PBA launched the "PBA on Tour", a months-long series of pre-season games involving all PBA teams played across the country. Each team played 11 games and were allowed to have 17 players in their roster (but only 16 are allowed to play in a game) which are composed of regular players, 3x3 affiliate team players, free agents, and rookie aspirants. The tour was held from May 21 to July 30, 2023; there was no playoffs nor a championship series. The Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots finished the tour with the best record, winning all of their 11 games. During the PBA on Tour, TNT Tropang Giga retired the jersey number of Harvey Carey (#4). The PBA competition committee proposed several rule changes, most notably the addition of the head coach challenge. Proposed new rules were first implemented during the PBA on Tour. After the tour, the league will assess which rules will be adapted starting the regular season. Willie Marcial will remain as the league's commissioner until the 2026–27 season as his contract was extended by the PBA Board of Governors. The PBA Board of Governors relaxed its rules regarding draft-eligible players who refuse to enter the draft and active PBA players who leave the league to play in another league locally or internationally. These players are no longer required to "sit out" seasons prior to joining the PBA. The former rule sanctioned these players by barring them from playing in the PBA for at most five years. Foreign-born Filipinos older than 30 years old are also now allowed to join the draft. The East Asia Super League disbanded the Bay Area Dragons on September 1, 2023, reportedly due to financial reasons. The EASL mentions "conflict of interest" for managing a team and organizing the league at the same time, as the official reason for dissolving the club. The PBA entered into an acquired agreement with ZOE Broadcasting Network and ABS-CBN Corporation to air the league's games on A2Z. All the ABS-CBN programs were temporarily affected by the changes in programming; A2Z's primetime, afternoon and weekend programming are preempted to give way for the PBA games on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Previously, the games were formerly broadcast on TV5.
Commissioner's Cup NorthPort Batang Pier team manager Pido Jarencio was fined ₱20,000 for hurling verbal threats at NLEX Road Warriors import Thomas Robinson during an elimination round game between the two teams. TV5 Network, Inc. entered into an acquired agreement with Nine Media Corporation (NMC) to broadcast selected PBA games on CNN Philippines every Saturday and Sunday. Starting from the finals, all PBA games were aired on RPTV, the channel that replaced the now-defunct news channel CNN Philippines. A2Z also canceled the broadcasting of PBA games after the finals' game 5. The league fined Converge FiberXers' Mac Tallo ₱100,000 and Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters' Chris Lalata ₱50,000 for ligang labas infractions. The FiberXers also subsequently terminated Tallo's contract. Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots' Calvin Abueva was fined ₱100,000 for doing mocking gestures towards San Miguel Beermen's head coach Jorge Gallent during game 2 of the Finals.
Philippine Cup Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters changed their monicker to the original Phoenix Fuel Masters. The logo debuted on the press conference and on their first game this conference. March 31: Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots' Calvin Abueva was fined ₱20,000 on flashing a dirty finger. April 3: The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters wore their throwback 2006 Welcoat Dragons jerseys for the first time. The retro jerseys were worn to honor the first brand the franchise carried from their days participating at the defunct Philippine Basketball League and their first two seasons in the PBA. May 1: San Miguel Beermen retired the jersey number of Arwind Santos (#29) during their game against Blackwater Bossing. June 1: The league announced that the operations of the PBA 3x3 will be indefinitely suspended.
Opening ceremonies Opening ceremony for this season was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on November 5, 2023, hosted by comedians Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola. P-pop boy band Alamat were among the guest performers. The PBA Leo Awards for the 2022–23 season were held before the opening ceremonies.
The first game of the Commissioner's Cup between the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots and the TNT Tropang Giga was played after the opening ceremonies.
Below is the list of team muses: Team Muse Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Heaven Peralejo Blackwater Bossing Herlene Budol Converge FiberXers Yskaela Yaena Fujimoto Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots Julie Anne San Jose Meralco Bolts Kaizen Dela Serna NLEX Road Warriors Vanie Gandler NorthPort Batang Pier Angel Santos Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters Yukii Takahashi Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Mary Jane Encabo and Jennelle Noblezada San Miguel Beermen Franki Russell Terrafirma Dyip Saira Khan TNT Tropang Giga Atasha Muhlach
2023–24 PBA Commissioner's Cup
The Commissioner's Cup started on November 5, 2023, and ended on February 14, 2024.
The conference is held first instead of the customary Philippine Cup, originally to accommodate guest team Bay Area Dragons which later got disbanded prior to the tournament.
Elimination round
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
|}*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.
Semifinals
Finals
Finals MVP: CJ Perez Best Player of the Conference: CJ Perez Bobby Parks Best Import of the Conference: Johnathan Williams
2024 PBA Philippine Cup
Elimination round
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
|}*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team 1 only has to win once, while Team 2 has to win twice.
Semifinals
Finals
Finals MVP: Chris Newsome Best Player of the Conference: June Mar Fajardo
Awards
Leo Awards
Most Valuable Player: June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel) Rookie of the Year: Stephen Holt (Terrafirma) Most Improved Player: Jhonard Clarito (Rain or Shine) First Mythical Team: June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel) Christian Standhardinger (Barangay Ginebra) Arvin Tolentino (NorthPort) CJ Perez (San Miguel) Chris Newsome (Meralco) Second Mythical Team: Cliff Hodge (Meralco) Calvin Oftana (TNT) Jason Perkins (Phoenix) Stephen Holt (Terrafirma) Juami Tiongson (Terrafirma) All-Defensive Team: Cliff Hodge (Meralco) June Mar Fajardo (San Miguel) Kemark Cariño (Terrafirma) Joshua Munzon (NorthPort) Chris Newsome (Meralco) Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award: Paul Zamar (NorthPort)
PBA Press Corps annual awards Defensive Player of the Year: Cliff Hodge (Meralco) Scoring Champion: Robert Bolick (NLEX)