# 2008–09 PBA season

The 2008–09 PBA season was the 34th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on October 4, 2008 and ended on July 17, 2009. This was the first time that the league will hold their opening ceremonies on a Saturday. The league started the season with the 2008-09 Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while capping off the season with the import-laiden 2009 Fiesta Conference.
The first activity of the season was the 2008 PBA Draft last August 31 at the Market! Market! in Taguig.

## Pre-season events
### Broadcast contracts

The 2008-09 season would be the first season under the PBA's new broadcast contract with Solar Sports. Games would now air on their cable channel Basketball TV, and on the stations of the Radio Philippines Network (who curiously, were the first broadcaster of the PBA) after an intense bidding war between Solar and ABS-CBN.

### Team re-brandings

* The Welcoat Dragons became the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (their last team name in the Philippine Basketball League).
* The Magnolia Beverage Masters returned to their previous identity as the San Miguel Beermen.
* The Talk 'N Text Phone Pals became the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters.

### Major trades

* The Alaska Aces traded 6-foot-3 Veteran Forward Eddie Laure and 6-foot-1 Point Guard Solomon Mercado to Rain or Shine Elasto Painters for 6-foot-7 Forward Joe Devance.
* The Air21 Express traded 6-foot-4 Forward Mark Borboran to Alaska Aces in exchange for 6-foot-6 Forward/center J.R. Quiñahan.

## Opening ceremonies

The season began on October 4 with the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters defeating the Coca Cola Tigers, 98-97.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
| Team | Muse |
| Air21 Express | Karla Henry |
| Alaska Aces | Isabelle Daza |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | Iwa Moto |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | Pokwang |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | Iya Villania |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | Priscilla Meirelles |
| Red Bull Barako | Marianna del Rio |
| San Miguel Beermen | 5 SMB models |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | Ariana Barouk |
| Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | Rufa Mae Quinto |

## 2008-09 Philippine Cup
### Elimination round

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | Alaska Aces | 12 | 6 | .667 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 11 | 7 | .611 | 1 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 4 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 10 | 8 | .556 | 2 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 6 | San Miguel Beermen | 9 | 9 | .500 | 3 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 7 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 8 | Air21 Express | 8 | 10 | .444 | 4 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 9 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 7 | 11 | .389 | 5 | Advance to wildcard round |
| 10 | Red Bull Barako | 5 | 13 | .278 | 7 | |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Barangay Ginebra +16, Rain or Shine −3, Sta. Lucia −13
* 1 2 Head-to-head record: Purefoods 2–0 Air21

### Playoffs

| Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Wildcard phase (single elimination) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (best-of-3) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Semifinals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) | Finals (best-of-7) |
| 7 | Purefoods | 82 | | | | | | | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 | |
| 8 | Air21 | 94 | | | | 3 | Ginebra | 1 | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | |
| | | | 8 | Air21 | 86 | 6 | San Miguel | 2 | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | San Miguel | 105 | | | | | | | 2 | Talk 'N Text | 4 |
| 6 | San Miguel | 99 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 3 |
| 9 | Coca-Cola | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 1 | Alaska | 4 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | | | | 4 | Rain or Shine | 0 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 2 | | 6 | San Miguel | 97 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Sta. Lucia (OT) | 99 |
* view
* talk

#### Wildcard phase
##### 1st round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| (6) San Miguel Beermen | 99–89 | (9) Coca-Cola Tigers |
| (7) Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 82–94 | (8) Air21 Express |

##### 2nd round

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| (6) San Miguel Beermen | 105–86 | (8) Air21 Express |

#### Quarterfinals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| (3) Barangay Ginebra Kings | 1–2 | (6) San Miguel Beermen | 77–78 | 91–88 | 93–98 |
| (4) Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 0–2 | (5) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 84–101 | 85–92 | — |

#### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| (1) Alaska Aces | 4–2 | (5) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 92–76 | 94–87 | 65–76 | 88–93 | 74–81 | 87–83 | — |
| (2) Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 4–2 | (6) San Miguel Beermen | 129–100 | 103–112 | 110–106 | 106–103 | 115–125 | 116–115 (OT) | — |

#### Third place playoff

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| (5) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 99–97 | (6) San Miguel Beermen |

#### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| (1) Alaska Aces | 3–4 | (2) Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 102–95 | 100–91 | 73–92 | 98–100 | 95–93 | 94–99 | 89–93 |
* Finals MVP: Mark Cardona (Talk 'N Text)
* Best Player of the Conference: Willie Miller (Alaska Aces)

## Smart Gilas exhibition games

Exhibition games were held prior to Games 4 and 6 of the Philippine Cup finals between the Smart Gilas (Philippines team that will compete in the FIBA Asia Championship 2011) coached by Rajko Toroman and previously eliminated teams from the Philippine Cup. The games also marked the appearance of the newly renamed Burger King Titans team formerly known as the Air21 Express.
* C/S9
* February 4
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* February 9
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

## 2009 Fiesta Conference
### Notable events

* Red Bull Barako changed their name to Barako Bull Energy Boosters.
* The former Air21 Express were renamed as the Burger King Titans. However, with the failure of several business deals that would have changed the franchise's upper management, the Titans renamed into the Burger King Whoppers by their seventh game into the conference, retaining their old management headed by the Lina family.
* The May 16 game between the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Alaska Aces held at the Albay Astrodome in Legaspi was canceled when the playing court was judged as too slippery, with Ginebra leading 9–2, and 8:04 remaining in the first quarter. The game was stopped twice and the stoppages lasted two hours before the game was canceled. The game was restarted at the Araneta Coliseum on May 22.

### Classification round

| Pos | Teamvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Qualification |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 11 | 3 | .786 | — | Advance to semifinals |
| 2 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Advance to semifinals |
| 3 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers | 8 | 6 | .571 | 3 | Twice-to-beat in the wildcard round |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 6 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 7 | 7 | .500 | 4 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 8 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Knockout in the wildcard round |
| 9 | Alaska Aces | 6 | 8 | .429 | 5 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
| 10 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 2 | 12 | .143 | 9 | Twice-to-win in the wildcard round |
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Rain or Shine +15, Barangay Ginebra −7, Burger King −8; second seed playoff: Barangay Ginebra 114–71 Rain or Shine
* 1 2 3 Head-to-head differential: Sta. Lucia +7, Purefoods +3, Talk 'N Text −10
* 1 2 Eighth seed playoff: Coca-Cola 81–74 Alaska

### Playoffs

| Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Wildcard phase | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Quarterfinals (Best-of-3) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Semifinals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) | Finals (Best-of-7) |
| (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | (#4 twice to beat) | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Burger King | 96 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 | | | |
| 9 | Alaska | 90 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 4 | Burger King | 2 | 4 | Burger King | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | 5 | Sta. Lucia | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia | 94 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 1 | San Miguel | 4 |
| 8 | Coca-Cola | 88 | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | (#3 twice to beat) | | | | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 3 |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rain or Shine | 96 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | | | | 2 | Ginebra | 4 | Third place playoff | Third place playoff | Third place playoff |
| 10 | Barako Bull | 88 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | 3 | Rain or Shine | 2 | | | |
| (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | (Single-elimination) | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | 6 | Purefoods | 1 | | | | 4 | Burger King | 132 |
| 6 | Purefoods (2OT) | 126 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
| 7 | Talk 'N Text | 123 | | | | | | | 3 | Rain or Shine | 118 |
* view
* talk

#### Wildcard phase

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 |
| (3) Rain or Shine Elasto Painters* | 1–0 | (10) Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 96–88 | — |
| (4) Burger King Whoppers* | 1–0 | (9) Alaska Aces | 96–90 | — |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| (5) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 94–88 | (8) Coca-Cola Tigers |
| (6) Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 126–123 (2OT) | (7) Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters |
*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team #1 only has to win once, while Team #2 has to win twice.

#### Quarterfinals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| (3) Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 2–1 | (6) Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 96–87 | 82–84 | 93–89 |
| (4) Burger King Whoppers | 2–1 | (5) Sta. Lucia Realtors | 84–93 | 94–81 | 120–72 |

#### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| (1) San Miguel Beermen | 4–2 | (4) Burger King Whoppers | 102–87 | 113–116 | 100–88 | 120–119 (2OT) | 90–103 | 118–103 | — |
| (2) Barangay Ginebra Kings | 4–2 | (3) Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 95–101 | 103–98 | 88–94 | 86–70 | 96–85 | 108–100 | — |

#### Third place playoff

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| (3) Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 118–132 | (4) Burger King Whoppers |

#### Finals

| Team 1 | Series | Team 2 | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 |
| (1) San Miguel Beermen | 4–3 | (2) Barangay Ginebra Kings | 96–102 | 95–78 | 103–116 | 106–104 | 98–106 | 98–84 | 90–79 |
* Finals MVP: Jonas Villanueva (San Miguel)
* Best Player of the Conference: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra Kings)
* Best Import of the Conference: Gabe Freeman (San Miguel Beermen)

## Philippines-Australia goodwill series

An Australian team was invited to a two-game series between the national team, with the winner of a game being awarded P75,000 (about A$4,340).
* C/S9
* April 3
| San Sebastian Staglets | 93–88 | Ateneo Blue Eaglets |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* April 3
| Powerade-Team Pilipinas | 87–63 | Motolite-Australia Great White Sharks |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* April 5
| FEU Lady Tamaraws | 65–61 | UP Lady Maroons |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
* C/S9
* April 5
| Powerade-Team Pilipinas | 93–89 (OT) | Motolite-Australia Hoopdreamz |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City

## 2009 PBA All-Star Weekend

The 2009 PBA All-Star Weekend was held from April 22 to 26 at three different cities, particularly: Victorias, Negros Occidental (April 22), Panabo, Davao del Norte (April 24), and Quezon City (April 26). The winners were:
* Obstacle Challenge: Paul Artadi (Barangay Ginebra Kings)
* Three-point Shootout: James Yap (Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants)
* Slam Dunk Competition: David Noel (Barangay Ginebra Kings)

### All-Star Games

* C/S9
* April 22
Powerade-Team Pilipinas 98, North All-Stars 80 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–23, 24–25, 25–10, 25–22 |||
| Pts: Mick Pennisi 15 | Pts: Jhamar Thorpe 16 |
* Victorias City Sports and Recreational Arena, Victorias, Negros Occidental
* C/S9
* April 24
Powerade-Team Pilipinas 103, South All-Stars 99 :
| Scoring by quarter: 28–21, 23–28, 33–13, 19–37 |||
| Pts: Jared Dillinger 12 | Pts: Peter June Simon 19 |
* Panabo City Tourism, Cultural and Sports Center, Panabo, Davao del Norte
* C/S9
* April 26 6:30 p.m.
PBA All-Stars 97, Powerade-Team Pilipinas 89 :
| Scoring by quarter: 24-23, 22-23, 25-25, 26-18 |||
| Pts: David Noel 18 | Pts: Arwind Santos 18 |
* Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City Attendance: 9,000+
David Noel named the All-Star Game MVP.

## Awards

* Most Valuable Player: Jayjay Helterbrand (Barangay Ginebra)
* Rookie of the Year: Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)
* First Mythical Team:
** Jayjay Helterbrand (Brgy. Ginebra)
** Mark Cardona (Talk 'N Text)
** Jay Washington (San Miguel)
** Arwind Santos (Burger King)
** Asi Taulava (Coca Cola)
* Second Mythical Team:
** Willie Miller (Alaska)
** Dondon Hontiveros (San Miguel)
** Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)
** Jay-R Reyes (Rain or Shine)
** Kelly Williams (Sta. Lucia)
* All-Defensive Team:
** Arwind Santos (Burger King)
** Billy Mamaril (Brgy. Ginebra)
** Asi Taulava (Coca Cola)
** Wynne Arboleda (Burger King)
** Ronald Tubid (Brgy. Ginebra)
* Most Improved Player: Jonas Villanueva (San Miguel)
* Sportsmanship Award: Ryan Reyes (Sta. Lucia)
* Motolite Pangmatagalan Player of the Year: Willie Miller (Alaska)

### Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

* Coach of the Year: Chot Reyes (Talk 'N Text)
* Mr. Quality Minutes: Jayson Castro (Talk 'N Text)
* Comeback Player of the Year: Mike Cortez (San Miguel)
* Executive of the Year: Danding Cojuangco (San Miguel)
* Referee of the Year: Throngy Aldaba
* Player of the Week Order of Merit: Arwind Santos (Burger King) / Jimmy Alapag (Talk 'N Text)
* All-Rookie Team
** Gabe Norwood (Rain or Shine)
** Sol Mercado (Rain or Shine)
** Bonbon Custodio (San Miguel)
** Jared Dillinger (Talk 'N Text)
** Larry Rodriguez (Barako Bull)

## Cumulative standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Qualification |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 61 | 36 | 25 | .590 | Champions |
| 2 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 47 | 26 | 21 | .553 | Champions |
| 3 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 49 | 27 | 22 | .551 | Finalist |
| 4 | Alaska Aces | 46 | 25 | 21 | .543 | Finalist |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 45 | 24 | 21 | .533 | Third place |
| 6 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 45 | 23 | 22 | .511 | Fourth place |
| 7 | Burger King Whoppers/Titans/Air21 Express | 45 | 23 | 22 | .511 | Third place |
| 8 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 37 | 17 | 20 | .459 | Quarterfinalist |
| 9 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 34 | 13 | 21 | .382 | Wildcard phase |
| 10 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters/Red Bull Barako | 33 | 7 | 26 | .212 | Wildcard phase |

### Elimination/classification rounds

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PCT |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 32 | 20 | 12 | .625 |
| 2 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 32 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 3 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 32 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 4 | Alaska Aces | 32 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 5 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 32 | 18 | 14 | .563 |
| 6 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 32 | 17 | 15 | .531 |
| 7 | Burger King Whoppers/Titans/Air21 Express | 32 | 16 | 16 | .500 |
| 8 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 32 | 15 | 17 | .469 |
| 9 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 32 | 13 | 19 | .406 |
| 10 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters/Red Bull Barako | 32 | 7 | 25 | .219 |

### Playoffs

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L |
| 1 | San Miguel Beermen | 29 | 16 | 13 |
| 2 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| 3 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers/Titans/Air21 Express | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | Alaska Aces | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 7 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 8 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 9 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters/Red Bull Barako | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Coca-Cola Tigers | 2 | 0 | 2 |