The season marked the first time without the famed Crispa Redmanizers participating in the league. New team Shell Azodrin Bugbusters takes over the franchise of the defunct winningest ballclub.
The PBA found a new home in the University of Life Theater and Recreational Arena (ULTRA) in Pasig after 10 years of playing at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Great Taste Coffee Makers continued its dynasty as they won their fourth straight title during the season and almost a Grandslam of sorts.[1]
A blockbuster trade took place between two-time MVP Ramon Fernandez of Manila Beer switching places with one-time MVP Abet Guidaben of Tanduay. Fernandez played his first game with the Rhum Makers starting in October.
The year saw the birth of a never-say-die squad known as Ginebra San Miguel with the 'Big J' Sonny Jaworski becoming the player-coach of the team starting the season. The Magnolia ballclub also offered the role of playing-coach to their returning import Norman Black at the start of the year.
Guest amateur team Northern Consolidated (NCC) won the PBA Third Conference crown over the Manila Beer Brewmasters and recorded the first-ever 4–0 finals sweep in league history.
Opening ceremonies
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
^The PBA finals ended earlier than the third-place playoffs. Rather than continue the series, the team that won more games in the series was named third place. As both teams won an identical number of games (2), the team that scored the most points in the series up to that point (Ginebra 431–433 Tanduay) was named third place.