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 City.
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 after an intense bidding war between Solar and ABS-CBN.Team re-brandings
- The Welcoat Dragons became the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
- 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 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
Playoffs
Finals results
- Philippine Cup Finals: Talk 'N Text def. Alaska, 4 games to 3.
- *Finals MVP: Mark Cardona
- Third place: Sta. Lucia
- Best Player of the Conference: Willie Miller
Smart Gilas exhibition games
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.
Elimination round
Playoffs
Finals results
- Fiesta Conference Finals: San Miguel def. Barangay Ginebra Kings 4 games to 3.
- *Finals MVP: Jonas Villanueva
- Third place: Burger King
- Best Player of the Conference: Jayjay Helterbrand
- Best Import of the Conference: Gabe Freeman
Philippines-Australia goodwill series
2009 PBA All-Star Weekend
The 2009 PBA All-Star Weekend was held from April 22 to April 26 at three different cities, particularly: Victorias, Negros Occidental, Panabo, Davao del Norte, and Quezon City. The winners were:- Obstacle Challenge: Paul Artadi
- Three-point Shootout: James Yap
- Slam Dunk Competition: David Noel
All-Star Games
Individual awards
- Most Valuable Player: Jayjay Helterbrand
- Rookie of the Year: Gabe Norwood
- First Mythical Team:
- *Jayjay Helterbrand
- *Mark Cardona
- *Jay Washington
- *Arwind Santos
- *Asi Taulava
- Second Mythical Team:
- *Willie Miller
- *Dondon Hontiveros
- *Gabe Norwood
- *Jay-R Reyes
- *Kelly Williams
- All-Defensive Team:
- *Arwind Santos
- *Billy Mamaril
- *Asi Taulava
- *Wynne Arboleda
- *Ronald Tubid
- Most Improved Player: Jonas Villanueva
- Sportsmanship Award: Ryan Reyes
- Motolite Pangmatagalan Player of the Year: Willie Miller
Awards given by the PBA Press Corps
- Coach of the Year: Chot Reyes
- Mr. Quality Minutes: Jayson Castro
- Comeback Player of the Year: Mike Cortez
- Executive of the Year: Danding Cojuangco
- Referee of the Year: Throngy Aldaba
- Player of the Week Order of Merit: Arwind Santos / Jimmy Alapag
- All-Rookie Team
- *Gabe Norwood
- *Sol Mercado
- *Bonbon Custodio
- *Jared Dillinger
- *Larry Rodriguez
Cumulative standings
| Team | GP | W | L | PCT | Best finish |
| San Miguel Beermen | 61 | 36 | 25 | .590 | Champions |
| Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 47 | 26 | 21 | .553 | Champions |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 49 | 27 | 22 | .551 | Runners-up |
| Alaska Aces | 46 | 25 | 21 | .543 | Runners-up |
| Sta. Lucia Realtors | 45 | 24 | 21 | .533 | Third place |
| Burger King Whoppers/Titans/Air21 Express | 45 | 23 | 22 | .511 | Third place |
| Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | 45 | 23 | 22 | .511 | Semifinalist |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 37 | 17 | 20 | .459 | Quarterfinalist |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | 34 | 13 | 21 | .382 | Wildcard phase |
| Barako Bull Energy Boosters/Red Bull Barako | 33 | 7 | 26 | .212 | Wildcard phase |