The 2010–11 PBA season was the 36th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. It started on October 3, 2010Meralco-Ginebra game to open PBA’s 36th season, GMANews.TV, August 24, 2010. and ended on August 21, 2011. The season marked the return of the original three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference. The import-laden Commissioner's Cup returned as the second tournament, while the Governors' Cup also returned, serving as the third conference which also served as an import-laden tournament.3-Conference Format: A Grand Slam, Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, ManilaStandardToday.com, September 17, 2010
The first activity of the season is the 2010 PBA Draft held on August 29 at the Market! Market! in Taguig.PBA welcomes applications for 2010 Draft, abs-cbnNEWS.comSmart Gilas Players Join PBA Draft Pool PBA.ph
Pre-season events
Player movement
Key transactions: Trades: Air21 traded Doug Kramer to Rain or Shine for Marcy Arellano.Air21, RoS agree on post-season trade; Marcy, Doug switch teams, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, August 8, 2010 Meralco dealt Ali Peek to Air21 for Beau Belga. Peek was then traded to Talk 'N Text for J.R. Quiñahan.PBA: Returning Meralco gets promising Belga in 3-team trade, GMANews.TV, August 20, 2010. Later on a separate transaction, Talk 'N Text traded Mark Cardona to Air21 in exchange of their 2010 first-round pick. Air21 later traded Cardona to Meralco in exchange of Joshua Urbiztondo and Meralco's 2010 1st-round pick.Meralco taps Cardona as its PBA franchise player, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, August 20, 2010. B-Meg Derby Ace traded Paul Artadi to San Miguel in exchange of Jonas Villanueva. Air21, acting as a conduit team, will get B-Meg Derby Ace's 2014 1st draft pick in exchange of their 2013 2nd-round pick.Ferriols, Bugia boost Painters’ frontline, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, August 31, 2010.SMB, B-MEG SWAP COURT GENERALS; MAMARIL BACK WITH THE KINGS, PBA.ph, September 2, 2010. Powerade traded Larry Rodriguez to Rain or Shine in exchange for Eddie Laure and Rain or Shine's 2011 1st round draft pick.Rain or Shine beefs up frontline, Powerade eyes future, PBA.ph, September 16, 2010. Meralco traded Jason Misolas and Khasim Mirza to Barako Bull for Rob Reyes. Reyes was then traded, along with Meralco's 2011 and 2012 2nd-round picks to Powerade in exchange for Asi Taulava. Powerade's Ken Bono was also traded to Barako Bull for the team's 2013 2nd round draft pick.Taulava joins Meralco in 5-player, 3-team trade, GMANews.TV, September 22, 2010.ASI MAKES NEWCOMER MERALCO SERIOUS CONTENDER, PBA.ph, September 24, 2010
Signing: Rain or Shine signed John Ferriols and Paolo Bugia. Talk 'N Text signed Rich Alvarez.Alvarez on his 7th Team, PBA.ph, September 16, 2010
Rule changes The PBA board approved the rule changes for implementation starting this season: PBA 101: Rule changes, PBA.ph, October 5, 2010. Rule changes (effective for the 2010–11 PBA season) 2-point or 3-point verification to be enforced for the entire game. During the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime period(s), verification will be made during the next deadball situation. During the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime period(s), contested out of bounds calls will be subject to video review. There will be no resetting of the shot clock after a jumpball if the tap goes to the offensive team. A player who cannot shoot free throws awarded to him because of injury and is replaced can no longer return to the game. The substitute will shoot the free throws, regardless of the type of foul called (regular or flagrant). The same rule applies on jumper in jumpball situations. No need to cross midcourt line for a player to call a 30-second timeout. During the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime period(s), all timeouts will have the option to inbound from the free throw line extended. In all overtime periods, a team enters penalty situation only after the second team foul. No more carryover of team fouls from the fourth quarter. No more primary or secondary defender distinction. No more Lower Defensive Box (LDB). No more flopping violation. No more "leaving the playing court to gain advantage" violation. A team shall be allowed to field in its 14-man line up during a game.
Notable occurrences Angelico "Chito" Salud became the eight commissioner of the league after the incumbent Sonny Barrios retired from his post., Nelson Beltran, Philippine Star, August 21, 2010 The PBA board approved the sale of the Sta. Lucia team franchise to Meralco. The team will now be known as the Meralco Bolts.PBA welcomes MVP’s Meralco , Waylon Galvez, Manila Bulletin, August 10, 2010 The league will return to a three-conference format starting this season.3-conference format, Meralco entry get PBA approval, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV, August 10, 2010 Coca-Cola Philippines announced that they will rechristen the Coca-Cola Tigers as the Powerade Tigers.Coca-Cola drops PBA brand name for Powerade, Rey Joble, GMANews.TV The Alaska Aces retired the jerseys of Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins in celebration of the 25th year of their franchise on September 28., THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco, (The Philippine Star), September 4, 2010.
Opening ceremonies The season began on October 3 with the Meralco Bolts defeating the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 73–72.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
Team Muse Air21 Express Daiana Menezes Alaska Aces Nancy Castiglione B-Meg Llamados Carla Abellana Barako Bull Energy Boosters Bianca Bauer Barangay Ginebra Kings Anne Curtis Meralco Bolts 14 Meralco employees Powerade Tigers Vice Ganda Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Coleen Garcia San Miguel Beermen Georgina Wilson, Isabelle Daza and Sam Pinto Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters Jennylyn Mercado
2010–11 Philippine Cup
Transactions
Player movement
Key transactions: Trades: Barako Bull Energy Boosters trades Hans Thiele to the Meralco Bolts in exchange for Dennis Daa. San Miguel Beermen trades Lordy Tugade and Chris Canta to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in exchange for Sunday Salvacion. Meralco Bolts trades Marlou Aquino, Khasim Mirza, Pong Escobal and a future draft pick to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in exchange for Reed Juntilla and Mark Isip.
Notable events Asi Taulava of Meralco, Solomon Mercado of Rain or Shine and Kelly Williams of Talk 'N Text were loaned to Smart Gilas for the duration of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.PBA players loaned to RP-Smart Gilas set Asiad goal, October 18, 2010, GMANews.tvLast-minute changes likely for Pinoy cagers, GMANews.TV, September 23, 2010 PBA Commissioner Chito Salud proposed a "Developmental League" patterned after the NBA D-League after the merger of Liga Pilipinas and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) fell out.With PBL's future uncertain, PBA pushes for D-League, GMANews.TV, January 5, 2011 The D-League proposal was eventually approved by the board of governors on January 25 and it is set to be launch on March.OWNERS OKAY SMART GILAS FOR 2ND CONF, TELECAST STAYS ON VHF, D-LEAGUE A GO, PBA.ph, January 25, 2011PBA approves Barako leave, Gilas' entry, Rey Joble, GMANews.tv, January 25, 2011 The board of governors approve the request of the Barako Bull Energy Boosters for a leave of absence for this season's Commissioner's Cup. The Smart Gilas Philippine basketball team will temporarily take over its place. All of the players of the Barako Bull will be put in a dispersal draft and will return to their mother team after the conference ends.
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: Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro (Talk 'N Text) Best Player of the Conference: Jay Washington (San Miguel)
2011 Commissioner's Cup
Notable events The conditional dispersal draft of the Barako Bull players was held in the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City on February 7. Out of the 14 players, only Lordy Tugade and Escobal were drafted by San Miguel and B-Meg Derby Ace respectively. Dispersal Draft: SMB picks Tugade, B-Meg Derby Ace taps Escobal, GMA News Online, February 7, 2011DISPERSAL DRAFT Tugade, Escobal get new lease on PBA life , by June Navarro, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 9, 2011 The Board of Governors approved Solar Entertainment's proposal to change its broadcast television partner from RPN to ABS-CBN's Studio 23 for the remainder of its contract with the league, beginning with the 2011 Commissioner's Cup.Solar finds a partner for airing of PBA games by Rey Joble, GMA News Online, February 9, 2011PBA GIVES NOD ON GAME TELECAST ON STUDIO 23, PBA.ph, February 8, 2011PBA agrees to airing its games on Studio 23 , Musong R. Castillo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 8, 2011 The PBA D-League will start on March 12 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The league will be composed of 14 teams, with three teams (Powerade-UP, Metro Pacific, Maynilad) having affiliation with existing PBA teams.PBA Developmental League draws 14 teams, 3 PBL squads jump ship, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, February 16, 2011 Four teams (Cobra Energy Drink, Agri-Nature Inc./FCA, Pharex, and Cafe France) that supposed to be part of the revival of the dormant Philippine Basketball League filed for application in the PBA D-League, hours after the PBL held its press conference regarding its revival.Without six teams, no PBL — for now, GMA News Online, February 16, 2011 The sale of the Barako Bull Energy Boosters' franchise to Phoenix Petroleum did not push through after they failed to get the required number of votes (seven out of ten) from the PBA Board of Governors. Due to this development, Barako Bull's leave of absence was extended up to the end of the Governors' Cup.Almost, but not quite: No Phoenix Petroleum in pro league — for now, by Rey Joble, GMA News Online, March 29, 2011
Player movement
Key transactions: Trades: On January 20, Rain or Shine, Meralco and Air21 were involved in a three-way trade. Rain or Shine was able to get Ronjay Buenafe, Ronnie Matias, the 2011 and 2013 1st-round picks from Air21 and Beau Belga from Meralco. Meralco will now have Solomon Mercado and Paolo Bugia from Rain or Shine and Erick Rodriguez of Air21. Air21 will now have Jay-R Reyes from Rain or Shine, Reed Juntilla from Meralco and the 2011 and 2013 second-round picks from Meralco. PBA Blockbuster: Sol to Meralco, Jay-R to Air21, Ronjay to Rain or Shine, Rey Joble, GMANews.tv, January 20, 2011. On January 28, Air21 traded J.R. Quiñahan to Powerade in exchange for the team's 2014 1st-round pick.Quiñahan, not Aquino, will shore up Tigers’ shallow frontline, Rey Joble, GMANews.tv, January 28, 2011 The said trade was revised by Commissioner Chito Salud on January 31 and Air21 will instead get Powerade's 2012 second round and 2013 first round picks.PBA trade: Quiñahan in exchange for 2 future picks approved, by Rey Joble, GMANews.tv, January 31, 2011 Alaska traded Reynel Hugnatan to Meralco in exchange for Hans Thiele and Paolo Bugia.Bolts acquire Hugnatan in three-player trade, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, February 15, 2011. On March 2, Commissioner Chito Salud approves the trade between Air21 and San Miguel. Air21 traded top rookie picks Nonoy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, and Rey Guevarra in exchange for Danny Seigle, Dondon Hontiveros, Dorian Peña and Paul Artadi.Trade approved: SMB gets wish of securing Air21's top rookies, Rey Joble, GMA News Online, March 2, 2011NEW 4-FOR-3 SMB-AIR21 DEAL APPROVED, PBA.ph, March 2, 2011 The proposed trade was disapproved by Commissioner Salud when San Miguel initially offered Danny Seigle, Mick Pennisi, Joseph Yeo and a 2011 first-round pick in exchange for the three Air21 rookies.Top rookies for PBA veteran players: Salud turns down trade offer by Rey Joble, GMA News Online, February 28, 2011
Signing: