The Philippine Basketball League (PBL), in partnership with the giant network ABS-CBN through Studio 23 and ABS-CBN Sports presentation of the league, adopted a new slogan "Ito ang tunay na ligang bayan".[1]
Fash (formerly Hapee) leaned on a couple of three-pointers by Larry Fonacier in the last quarter of the deciding fifth game to down Welcoat Paints and clinch the championship. Fash coach Junel Baculi now match former Stag coach Alfrancis Chua as the winningest mentor in the PBL with seven titles.[2]
Viva Mineral Water-FEU wins their first championship since joining the league in this same conference last year, where they lost to Hapee after taking a 2-1 series lead in the finals. Welcoat threatened to extend the series by taking an eight-point lead, 43-35, midway in the third quarter, but the Water Force ended their scoring drought with eight unanswered points for a 43-all deadlock entering the final period.[3]
PBL Commissioner Chino Trinidad resign unexpectedly at halftime of Game three of Fash-Welcoat finals series, Trinidad admitted his frustration and displeasure on a display of defiance by Welcoat players following the choice of Fash' Peter June Simon as MVP over Welcoat' Jercules Tangkay. Deputy commissioner Tommy Ong was named interim chief of the league.[4][5]