PBA Governors' Cup

Last updated

PBA Governors' Cup
Most recent season or competition:
2023 PBA Governors' Cup
PBA Governors' Cup trophy - 2016.png
The PBA Governors' Cup trophy won by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in 2016.
Sport Basketball
Founded1993;31 years ago (1993)
First season 1993
Most recent
champion(s)		 TNT Tropang Giga (1st title)
(2023)

The PBA Governors' Cup is a tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association. Along with the PBA Commissioner's Cup, the tournament is one of the two conferences that allows teams to hire a single foreign player, also known as an "import". The tournament was first held in 1993 as the third conference of the PBA season.

Contents

It was discontinued in 2003 when the Reinforced Conference was revived. From 2004 to 2010, the league only held two conferences in a season; one All-Filipino tournament, named as the Philippine Cup and one with imports, named as the Fiesta Conference The tournament was re-instated in 2011 as the third conference of the PBA season after the league re-adopted the three conference format.

The Governors' Cup also refers to the trophy awarded to the champion team.

History

During the 1993 PBA season, the league renamed the Third Conference as the Governors' Cup, a reference to the members of the PBA Board of Governors. The singular name "Governor" refers to the board representative of each team. The conference usually was the last tournament held in a PBA season.

After San Miguel won the first Governors Cup in 1993, Alaska dominated the tournament from 1994-1997. In 1998, due to the league's commitment with the Philippine Centennial Team, they allowed each team to take two imports with a combined height of 12 feet. Shell, with no players taken for the national team, won the tournament over Mobiline.

San Miguel Beer won the tournament from 1999-2000 before Sta. Lucia upset the Beermen a year later, giving the Realtors its first PBA title. In 2002, due to the league's commitment to the national team, the Governors Cup became the first conference, while moving the All-Filipino Conference as its third and last tournament. Since most of the teams' star players were with the national squad, the PBA once again allowed teams to take two imports with a 12-foot maximum total height limit. Purefoods beat Alaska in seven games to win the title.

The tournament was retired in 2003 after the re-introduction of the Reinforced Conference as the third conference of the season but was eventually reactivated in 2011 after the league restored the three-conference season format.

Tournament format

From 1993 to 1995, the teams were divided into two groups in the group stage. The teams in the same group will play against each other once and against teams in the other group twice. After the eliminations, the top five teams will advance to a double round-robin semifinals. A playoff incentive will be given to a team that will win five of their eight semifinal games should they fail to get the top two finals berths. The top two teams (or the No. 1 team and the winner of the playoff between team with at least 5 semifinal wins and the No. 2 team) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series.

In 1996, the league adopted a quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format with the top two seeds advancing automatically to the semifinals and the next four teams will be matched up in the quarterfinals after the eliminations.

A different tournament format was used in 1998 when it carried over the elimination standings of the preceding Centennial Cup. The teams were pitted again in a single round-robin eliminations with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. The remaining teams will compete in a single round-robin semifinals, with the top two teams advancing in the finals.

In 1999, a new quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format was introduced due to the entry of the Tanduay Rhum Masters. The top eight teams after a round-robin eliminations will advance to the quarterfinals. The top two seeds will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the last two seeded teams. Other seeded teams will compete in a best-of-three playoffs.

After the reintroduction of the tournament in 2011, the league adopted a tournament format similar on what was used in 1995. Dubbed as the "classic PBA format", [1] the tournament begins in a single round-robin eliminations. The top six teams will advance in a single round-robin semifinals. A playoff incentive will be given to a team that will win four of their five semifinal games should they fail to get the top two finals berths. The top two teams (or the No. 1 team and the winner of the playoff between team with at least 5 semifinal wins and the No. 2 team) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series.

The tournament format since the 2013 edition was changed to a quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format. The top eight teams after a single round-robin group stage will advance to the quarterfinals. The top four teams will have a twice-to-beat incentive against their opponents during this round. The winners will advance to a best of five semifinal round and the winners of this round will meet in a best-of-seven championship series.

Import rules

The height limit for import players varies from every year. In 2011, the height adopted a handicapping system in which the top two teams of the combined results of the Philippine and Commissioner's Cups are allowed to have an import with a 6'2" (1.88 m) height limit. The next four teams will be allowed with a 6'4" (1.93 m) import and the last two teams will be allowed with a 6'6" (1.98 m) import. In 2012, the handicapping was scrapped and the league set the height limit of imports to 6'5" (1.95 m).

While the tournament is underway, a team can play with an All-Filipino lineup only once. Imports can be replaced in the whole duration of the tournament (including finals).

In 1998 and 2002 editions, the teams allowed to have two imports.

Teams were allowed to hire an additional import with Asian heritage (called as the Asian import) with a height limit of 6'3", from 2015 to 2016. The Asian heritage import provision was shelved in 2017 in lieu of the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup. [2]

Trophy design

The PBA Governors' Cup trophy won by the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs in 2002. This design was used from 1994 to 2002 and on 2011. PBA Governors' Cup Trophy.png
The PBA Governors' Cup trophy won by the Purefoods TJ Hotdogs in 2002. This design was used from 1994 to 2002 and on 2011.

The trophy design used since the 1994 season features the Governors' Cup with the league logo at the front. The cup is placed in a base where all of the logos of the participating teams of the tournament are engraved. A unique feature of this trophy is that the champion team's logo is placed at the front middle of the trophy with the runner-up at its left and the third place at the right. The rest of the team logos are arranged according to their rankings at the conclusion of the tournament. Red, blue and yellow ribbons were placed in the handles of the trophy, mirroring the colors in the PBA logo. The winner keeps permanent possession of the trophy and a new one is created every year. In 2012, the trophy's cup handles were modified and the league logo was replaced with the tournament's season logo.

A prototype version of this trophy, first shown during the 1994 PBA opening ceremonies, is on display at the lobby of the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

List of champions

Per season

  Won three or more consecutive tournaments
SeasonChampionRunner-upSeriesDetails
1993 San Miguel Beermen Swift Mighty Meaties 4–1 tournament details
1994 Alaska Milkmen Swift Mighty Meaties 4–2 tournament details
1995 Alaska Milkmen San Miguel Beermen 4–3 tournament details
1996 Alaska Milkmen Ginebra San Miguel 4–1 tournament details
1997 Alaska Milkmen Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys 4–1 tournament details
1998 Formula Shell Super Unleaded Mobiline Phone Pals 4–3 tournament details
1999 San Miguel Beermen Alaska Milkmen 4–2 tournament details
2000 San Miguel Beermen Purefoods TJ Hotdogs 4–1 tournament details
2001 Sta. Lucia Realtors San Miguel Beermen 4–2 tournament details
2002 Purefoods TJ Hotdogs Alaska Aces 4–3 tournament details
2003–2010: no tournament held
2010–11 Petron Blaze Boosters Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters 4–3 tournament details
2011–12 Rain or Shine Elasto Painters B-Meg Llamados 4–3 tournament details
2012–13 San Mig Coffee Mixers Petron Blaze Boosters 4–3 tournament details
2013–14 San Mig Super Coffee Mixers Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 3–2 tournament details
2014–15 San Miguel Beermen Alaska Aces 4–0 tournament details
2015–16 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Meralco Bolts 4–2 tournament details
2016–17 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Meralco Bolts 4–3 tournament details
2017–18 Magnolia Hotshots Alaska Aces 4–2 tournament details
2019 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Meralco Bolts 4–1 tournament details
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Meralco Bolts 4–2 tournament details
2022–23 TNT Tropang Giga Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 4–2 tournament details
2023–24 no tournament held due to 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2022 Asian Games

Per franchise

TotalTeamLast championship
5 San Miguel/Petron Blaze 2015
4 Alaska* 1997
Purefoods/San Mig Coffee/Magnolia 2018
Barangay Ginebra 2021
1 Shell* 1998
Sta. Lucia* 2001
Rain or Shine 2012
TNT 2023
* Defunct franchise

Individual awards

Best Player of the Conference

^Denotes player who is still active in the PBA
*Inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been named BPC
SeasonBest PlayerTeam
1994 Vergel Meneses Swift
1995 Allan Caidic San Miguel
1996 Marlou Aquino Ginebra
1997 Alvin Patrimonio* Purefoods
1998 Jerry Codiñera Purefoods
1999 Danny Seigle San Miguel
2000 Danny Ildefonso San Miguel
2001 Danny Ildefonso (2) San Miguel
2002 Rey Evangelista Purefoods
2011 Arwind Santos^ Petron Blaze
2012 Mark Caguioa Barangay Ginebra
2013 Arwind Santos^ (2) Petron Blaze
2014 Ranidel de Ocampo Talk 'N Text
2015 June Mar Fajardo^ San Miguel
2016 Jayson Castro^ TNT
2017 Greg Slaughter Barangay Ginebra
2018 Paul Lee^ Magnolia
2019 Christian Standhardinger^ NorthPort
2021 Scottie Thompson^ Barangay Ginebra
2023 Christian Standhardinger^ (2) Barangay Ginebra

Bobby Parks Best Import award

YearBest ImportTeam
1993 Flag of the United States.svg Kenny Travis San Miguel
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Ronnie Coleman Pepsi
1995 Flag of the United States.svg Stevin Smith Sunkist
1996 Flag of the United States.svg Sean Chambers Alaska
1997 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Robinson San Miguel
1998 Flag of the United States.svg Silas Mills Mobiline
1999 Flag of the United States.svg Lamont Strothers San Miguel
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Brown Purefoods
2001 Flag of the United States.svg Damian Owens Sta. Lucia
2002 Flag of the United States.svg Derrick Brown (2) Purefoods
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Arizona Reid Rain or Shine
2012 Flag of the United States.svg Jamelle Cornley Rain or Shine
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Marqus Blakely San Mig Coffee
2014 Flag of the United States.svg Arizona Reid (2) Rain or Shine
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Romeo Travis Alaska
2016 Flag of the United States.svg Allen Durham Meralco
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Allen Durham (2) Meralco
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Mike Harris Alaska
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Allen Durham (3) Meralco
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Justin Brownlee Barangay Ginebra
2023 Flag of the United States.svg Rondae Hollis-Jefferson TNT

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PBA Commissioner's Cup</span> Tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association

The PBA Commissioner's Cup is a tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association. Along with the PBA Governors' Cup, the tournament is one of the two competitions in a PBA season that allows teams to hire a single foreign player, also known as an "import". The tournament was first held in 1993 as the PBA season's second competition.

The 1987 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Open Conference was the first conference of the 1987 PBA season. It started on March 22 and ended on June 23, 1987. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The 1987 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Reinforced Conference was the third and last conference of the 1987 PBA season. It started on October 4 and ended on December 13, 1987. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with a 6'4" height limit.

The 1996 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 1996 PBA season. It started on June 14 and ended on September 10, 1996. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with a 6'7" height limit.

The 1997 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 1997 PBA season. It started on June 13 and ended on September 7, 1997. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with a 6'8" height limit.

The 1995 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup was the third and last conference of the 1995 PBA season. It started on September 29 and ended on December 19, 1995. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The 1991 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Third Conference was the last conference of the 1991 PBA season. It started on September 15 and ended on December 15, 1991. The tournament allows one import with a height limit of 6'1" each per team.

The 1986 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Open Conference was the third and final conference of the 1986 PBA season. It started on September 23 and ended on December 11, 1986. The tournament requires two import each per team with the height limit of 6"3 and 6"6.

The 1993 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup was the third and last conference of the 1993 PBA season. It started on September 26 and ended on December 14, 1993. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team. The tournament features a handicapping rule which allows teams that failed to reach the semifinals for the last two conference to have an import with a 6'6" height limit. The other teams will be allowed with a 6'3" import.

The 1986 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Filipino Conference was the second conference of the 1986 PBA season. It started on July 6 and ended on September 2. The tournament is an All-Filipino format, which doesn't require an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The 1994 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup was the third conference of the 1994 PBA season. It started on September 27 and ended on December 18, 1994. The tournament had an import-laden format, requiring an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 PBA Governors' Cup</span>

The 2011 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup is the third and last conference of the 2010-11 PBA season. The tournament started on June 11 and ended on August 21. The Barako Bull Energy Boosters have extended their leave of absence and Smart Gilas declined to join the season ending conference.

The 1985 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Open Conference was the first conference of the 1985 PBA season. It started on March 3 and ended on May 30, 1985. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The 1983 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Open Conference was the third and last conference of the 1983 PBA season. It started on August 28 and ended on December 1, 1983. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires two imports per each team.

The 2012 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 2011–12 PBA season. The tournament began on February 10 and ended on May 6, 2012. The tournament is an import-laden format, which means that a team may sign an import or a pure-foreign player for each team with no height limit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 PBA Governors' Cup</span>

The 2012 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup, was the third and last conference of the 2011–12 PBA season. The tournament started on May 20 and culminated on August 5 with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters team defeating the B-Meg Llamados team by 4 games to 3.

The 1983 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Reinforced Filipino Conference was the second conference of the 1983 PBA season. It started on May 15 and ended on August 23, 1983. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import with the height limit of 6"5' and below for each team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup</span> Second conference of the 2012–13 PBA season

The 2013 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner's Cup was the second conference of the 2012–13 PBA season. The tournament began on February 8 and ended on May 19, 2013. The tournament is an import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team and with no height limit. From the semifinal round onwards, the tournament is sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 PBA Governors' Cup</span> Third conference of the 2012–13 PBA season

The 2013 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup was the third and last conference of the 2012–13 PBA season. Due to the preparations for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, the conference started on August 14, 2013, and finished on October 25, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 PBA Governors' Cup</span>

The 2015 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup, also known as the 2015 PLDT Home TVolution-PBA Governors' Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the third and last conference of the 2014–15 PBA season. The tournament began on May 5, 2015 and ended on July 17, 2015. The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players or imports with a height limit of 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) for the top eight teams of combined results of the Philippine Cup and Commissioner's Cup, while the bottom four teams will be allowed to hire imports with no height limit. The teams were allowed to hire an additional Asian import with a height limit of 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m).

References

  1. ↑ PBA reverts to old-school format for 2012 Governors’ Cup Archived May 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , InterAKTV, May 19, 2012
  2. ↑ Ramos, Gerry (July 7, 2017). "PBA schedule conflict with Fiba Asia Cup prompts league to shelve hiring of Asian imports". Spin.ph.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.