Manila Beer disbanded its franchise at the start of the season, reducing the league's membership to only 6 teams, their players were absorbed by the rest of the PBA ballclubs. [1]
The PBA, in partnership with a newly formed league called International Basketball Association (IBA) of the United States for players 6–4 and below, staged a successful mini-tournament for one week, featuring the top PBA All-Filipino teams and the US (IBA) Selection.
Tanduay Rhum Makers, which won the Open Conference crown, were eliminated and finish last in the succeeding two conferences, announces that the team is headed for disbandment the following year, leaving only two founding members of the PBA (San Miguel and Great Taste).
The San Miguel Beermen, behind best import Bobby Parks, won the Reinforced Conference crown and their third PBA title since returning in the third conference of last year. SMB coach Norman Black won his first championship as a mentor and he became the third American to steer his team to a PBA title after Jerry Webber and Ron Jacobs.
Opening ceremonies
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
^If a team outside the top two teams wins at least five semifinal round games, then it and the second-placed team will playoff for the last Finals berth; otherwise, the top 2 teams qualify outright.
