2017–18 PBA season


The 2017–18 PBA season was the 43rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The league continued to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were the second and third conferences in the upcoming season.
The first event of the season was the 2017 PBA draft, held on October 29.

Executive board

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

ArenaCity
Cuneta AstrodomePasay
Filoil Flying V CentreSan Juan
Mall of Asia ArenaPasay
Smart Araneta ColiseumQuezon City
Ynares CenterAntipolo

Out-of-town arenas

Highlighted are playoff games.
ArenaCityDateMatch-up
Philippine ArenaBocaue, BulacanDecember 25, 2017NLEX vs. GlobalPort
Barangay Ginebra vs. Magnolia
Philippine ArenaBocaue, BulacanFebruary 18, 2018NLEX vs. Blackwater
Meralco vs. Barangay Ginebra
University of San Agustin GymIloilo CityJanuary 13, 2018San Miguel vs. TNT
Calasiao Sports ComplexCalasiao, PangasinanFebruary 10, 2018Rain or Shine vs. Magnolia
Calasiao Sports ComplexCalasiao, PangasinanJune 23, 2018NLEX vs. San Miguel
Calasiao Sports ComplexCalasiao, PangasinanOctober 20, 2018TNT vs. San Miguel
Batangas City Sports ColiseumBatangas CityFebruary 17, 2018Alaska vs. San Miguel
Xavier University GymCagayan de OroFebruary 24, 2018Magnolia vs. Meralco
Xavier University GymCagayan de OroSeptember 29, 2018Phoenix vs. Barangay Ginebra
Alonte Sports ArenaBiñan, LagunaMay 11, 2018NLEX vs. Phoenix
Barangay Ginebra vs. Blackwater
Alonte Sports ArenaBiñan, LagunaOctober 27, 2018Blackwater vs. Columbian
Rain or Shine vs. San Miguel
Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena & Cultural CenterAngelesMay 12, 2018GlobalPort vs. Magnolia
Lambero Macias Sports ComplexDumaguete, Negros OrientalMay 19, 2018Alaska vs. San Miguel
Ibalong Centrum for RecreationLegazpi, AlbayJune 9, 2018Barangay Ginebra vs. NLEX
City of Passi ArenaPassi, IloiloSeptember 22, 2018TNT vs. Rain or Shine
Santa Rosa Sports ComplexSanta Rosa, LagunaOctober 7, 2018Rain or Shine vs. Blackwater
Meralco vs. Barangay Ginebra
Quezon Convention CenterLucenaOctober 13, 2018Barangay Ginebra vs. Rain or Shine

Transactions

Retirement

Rule changes

The PBA competition committee approved the rule changes for implementation starting in the Commissioner's Cup games:
Rule changes

  1. The number of 30-second timeouts were reduced from three to two
  2. Tapping the backboard in an attempt to block a shot from an offensive player will not be considered as a goal-tending violation.
  3. Pulling of jerseys to impede the movement of an opponent will only be called as an ordinary foul unless there is a clear path to the basket for the offensive player

Notable events

Pre-season

  • November 2, 2017: The majority of the PBA Board of Governors passed a resolution stating that they will no longer support or endorse the renewal of Commissioner Chito Narvasa's tenure due to "loss of confidence". Representatives from Alaska, Blackwater, Meralco, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Phoenix and TNT attended a special board meeting on November 2 that passed this resolution. Deputy Commissioner and Technical Head Rickie Santos will be the league's officer-in-charge while the board will still tackle who will replace Narvasa as commissioner. Later in the afternoon, the bloc that composes the three San Miguel Corporation teams as well as independent teams GlobalPort and Kia stated their continued support with Narvasa. Former PBA chairman Robert Non criticized the move done by the seven board members for making a "whimsical" decision in ousting Narvasa and mentioned that the move was unauthorized and non binding as per the league's by-laws. According to the PBA by-laws, a two-thirds vote of its current membership is necessary to remove or appoint a commissioner. Non also criticized the timing of the meeting when the meeting notice was only sent to all board representatives on Monday, October 30. According to the rules, the board representatives should have been notified seven days before the date set for the meeting. Narvasa later called a press conference at the PBA office in Libis and indicated that he will not resign as the commissioner. He is also requesting the seven teams that will not endorse his term renewal to explain the grounds of their "loss of confidence" to the current commissioner. He also stated that he is willing to resign the commissioner post, but after consultation with his family and lawyers, he will hold on as commissioner, given that any move to oust him should follow the rules stated in the league's by-laws.
  • November 27, 2017: The Star Hotshots changed their name to Magnolia Hotshots. The team's new logo debuted during the team's press launching.
  • December 11, 2017: The NLEX Road Warriors adopted a new logo. The new logo debuted during the team's press launching.
  • December 17, 2017: PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa officially tendered his resignation. The board of governors have advised Narvasa to stay as commissioner until December 31, 2017, to have a smooth transition to his eventual successor. The board also named Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial as the league's officer-in-charge.

Philippine Cup

  • Mark Caguioa changed his jersey number from #47 to #13 to honor his recently retired teammate Jayjay Helterbrand. He will use the #13 jersey for the duration of the Philippine Cup.
  • January 25, 2018: The PBA Board of Governors official appointed officer-in-charge Willie Marcial as the tenth commissioner of the league.
  • March 27, 2018: The lifetime ban on Renaldo Balkman was lifted. The lifetime ban was imposed by former commissioner Chito Salud on March 13, 2013, due to an incident involving his former teammate Arwind Santos when Balkman grabbed Santos by the neck in the final minutes of their game against Alaska on March 8, 2013. Before lifting the ban, Commissioner Willie Marcial consulted Santos and former commissioner Salud and gave their approval.

Commissioner's Cup

Governors' Cup

Opening ceremonies

The opening ceremonies for this season was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on December 17, 2017. The first game of the Philippine Cup between the Phoenix Fuel Masters and the San Miguel Beermen immediately followed.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
TeamMuse
Alaska AcesTaki Saito
Barangay Ginebra San MiguelMyrtle Sarrosa
Blackwater EliteAshley Ortega
GlobalPort Batang PierHillarie Parungao
Kia PicantoPhoemela Baranda
Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang ManokMaureen Wroblewitz
Meralco BoltsChanel Thomas
NLEX Road WarriorsRachel Anne Daquis
Phoenix Fuel MastersRhian Ramos
Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersJannie Alipo-on
San Miguel BeermenLindsay Stalzer
TNT KaTropaLaura Lehmann

Awards

Leo Awards

Most Valuable Player: June Mar Fajardo Rookie of the Year: Jason Perkins Most Improved Player: Scottie Thompson First Mythical Team:

PBA Press Corps Annual Awards

Defensive Player of the Year: JP Erram Scoring Champion: Stanley Pringle Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year: Chito Victolero Mr. Quality Minutes: Vic Manuel Breakout Player of the Year: Chris Tiu Danny Floro Executive of the Year: Alfrancis Chua Order of Merit