2009–10 PBA season


The 2009–10 PBA season was the 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on October 11, 2009, and ended on August 18, 2010. The league started the season with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while finishing the season with the import-laiden Fiesta Conference.
The 2009 PBA Draft was held on August 2, 2009, at the Market! Market!, and Japeth Aguilar was selected first overall by the Air21 Express. The Puerto Princesa City Government hosted the 2010 PBA All-Star Weekend at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum in Palawan on April 25, 2010.

Pre-season events

Player movement

Key transactions:
Trades:
Signing:
Resigning:

Rule changes

The PBA board approved the rule changes for implementation starting in the pre-season games:
Rule changes
# The three-point line's distance is set back to 22 feet. The line was previously 20.6 feet away from the basket.
  1. The "key" is now a rectangle. It was previously the FIBA standard trapezoid key.
  2. The 24-second violation will be ignored if the opposing team has clear possession of the basketball.
  3. All parts of the backboard are considered in play when struck by the ball except the back of the backboard, which is not in play.
  4. # The ball is considered out of bounds if the ball hits the top of the board and passes directly behind the backboard from any point.
  5. # The ball is considered out of bounds if the ball hits the top of the board and then hits the game clock, shot clock, support or any device above the backboard.
  6. # It is considered a violation attempting a field goal directly behind the backboard.
  7. # Any ball that rebounds and goes over the top and passes directly behind the backboard without hitting any part of the board is considered out-of-bounds.
  8. Hanging on the rim after a dunk is now allowed.
  9. Landing spot rule:
  10. # If without contact, Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 is called - two free throws are awarded, ball possession is retained by team of offended player, guilty player sits for three playing minutes.
  11. # If with contact, Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 is called - two free throws are awarded, team of offended player retains ball possession, and guilty player is ejected from the game. Automatic Fine of minimum P10,000.00. Minimum of one day suspension if contact resulted in dire consequence.
  12. A tip-in is considered act of shooting.
  13. A player screening an opponent must have both feet on the floor when contact occurs. A player setting a screen can move his body into a new but equal position sideways provided his shoulders are directly squared with his foot.
  14. The screener cannot lean forward towards the defender or extend any part of his body in attempting to impede the basketball defender's movement in covering his man.
  15. Pushing or bumping is illegal personal contact of an opponent in which a defensive player forcibly moves or attempts to move a shooter, cutter or dribbler wherein the offensive player is placed at a disadvantage. A foul will be called if the defender bumps 1) a shooter, 2) a cutter, 3) a dribbler who loses the ball.
  16. Falling down to fake a foul will not be tolerated. Referees will now give a warning on the first infraction. Subsequently, a technical foul will be given on the next violation.

Notable occurrences

Opening ceremonies

The season began on October 11 with the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants defeating the Burger King Whoppers, 90–83.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
TeamMuse
Smart GilasJessica Mendoza
Alaska AcesCJ Haravata
Barako Bull Energy BoostersNadine Wisher
Barangay Ginebra KingsAnne Curtis
Burger King WhoppersKarla Henry
Coca-Cola TigersPokwang
Purefoods Tender Juicy GiantsBianca Manalo
Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersCarla Abellana
San Miguel BeermenSMB models
Sta. Lucia RealtorsPatricia Fernandez and Jennifer Barrientos
Talk 'N Text Tropang TextersRags to Riches mothers

2009–10 Philippine Cup

Notable events

  • After playing with just one game with the Burger King Whoppers, top rookie pick Japeth Aguilar was traded to Talk 'N Text after a three-way trade involving Barako Bull. Burger Kings was able to get Barako Bull's 2010 and 2012 first-round picks and will also take Talk ‘N Text’s 2013 and 2014 first-round picks. Barako Bull will now have the rights on Orlando Daroya while Talk ‘N Text will get Aguilar, who will be loaned to Smart Gilas.
  • Wynne Arboleda of the Burger King Whoppers was suspended without pay for the rest of the season plus one game after a violent altercation with a fan during their game against Smart Gilas last October 16. He also drew a PhP20,000 fine. While serving his suspension, Arboleda cannot be present at the playing venues during Burger King’s games.
  • On October 29, 2009. The PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios announced that the games played by the Smart Gilas National Team will have no effects on the standings of the other teams of the PBA. This decision was made by the commissioner because of the intensity of the games played against Smart Gilas that resulted in the suspension of and the possibility of criminal charges against Wynne Arboleda as a result of him attacking a fan at courtside in Araneta Coliseum when the Burger King Whoppers played the Smart Gilas National Team.
  • Talk 'N Text walked out of the playing court during their quarterfinal game with Barangay Ginebra leading 27–20 with a minute left in the first quarter after Ranidel de Ocampo was called for a flagrant foul against Ronald Tubid. Besides forfeiting Game 4 to their opponent, Commissioner Sonny Barrios penalized the telecommunication franchise of fines ranging over P1 million. The P500,000 for the forfeiture, an additional P500,000 fine, which will go directly to the league's Players’ Educational Trust Fund, and the team's share in the gate receipts and TV revenues for that particular game, which ranges anywhere between P200,000 to P250,000.

Playoffs

Wildcard phase

1st round
2nd round

Mid-season break events

Player movement

Key transactions:
Trades:

Team re-brandings

Notable occurrences

2010 Fiesta Conference

Notable events

Playoffs

Wildcard phase

1st round
2nd round
Quarterfinals

2010 PBA All-Star Weekend

The 2010 PBA All-Star Weekend was held from April 22 to 25 at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The winners were:

Rookie-Sophomore Blitz Game

Blitz Game MVP: Jared Dillinger

All-Star Game

All-Star Game MVP: Gabe Norwood

Awards

PBA Annual Awards

Awards given by the PBA Press Corps

Coach of the Year: Ryan Gregorio Mr. Quality Minutes: KG Canaleta Comeback Player of the Year: Kelly Williams Executive of the Year: Wilfred Uytengsu Referee of the Year: Manolito Quilingen