The 2022–23 PBA season or PBA season 47 was the 47th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). For the first time in two seasons, the league returned to its regular three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's and Governors' Cups were the second and third conferences in this season.[1]
After the PBA adjusted its calendar again, the association's 47th season started on June 5, 2022, and ended on April 21, 2023. Also for the first time since 2018, the season spanned two calendar years.[2]
The first activity of the season was the PBA season 47 draft, held on May 15, 2022.[3]
With the relaxation of government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PBA has returned to playing to different Metro Manila venues.[7] The PBA plans to return to playing games in the provinces, plus an out-of-the-country game, during the Governors' Cup.[8]
On September 19, 2022, Paul Desiderio announced his retirement from the PBA. Desiderio played for the Blackwater Bossing franchise in his three seasons in the league.[13]
On January 7, 2023, Larry Fonacier formally retired after being tapped by NLEX Road Warriors as its team manager. Fonacier played for five teams in his 15 seasons in the league.[14]
Coaching changes
There were no offseason coaching changes; all of the listed changes below occurred mid-season.
The PBA competition committee approved the rule changes for implementation starting in the Philippine Cup games:[26][27]
Rule changes (effective for the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup)
The offensive player's "side-swipe" motion to create a contact on a defender's extended arm will only be considered as a "regular" foul and not a "shooting" foul.
Referees are now allowed to give a warning to players who may have already incurred a flagrant foul or any player from the same team for any unsportsmanlike conduct.
Floppers will now be given an outright non-unsportsmanlike technical foul.
Players located beyond the three point arc during a free throw situation are now allowed to enter the paint once the ball is released by the free throw shooter.
A defensive player stopping an offensive player without the ball in transition will be charged with a deliberate foul, regardless of clear path.
A player who has the control of the ball but is lying on the ground can no longer call a timeout.
Notable events
Pre-season
The PBA Board of Governors approved the return of the three-conference format this season.[1]
Ricky Vargas of TNT Tropang Giga was re-elected for a fifth consecutive term as the Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors. Bobby Rosales of Terrafirma Dyip was re-elected as Vice Chairman, while Raymond Zorilla of the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters was elected as treasurer. Vargas is currently the longest-serving head of the PBA Board of Governors since the presidency of Ginebra San Miguel's Carlos "Honeyboy" Palanca III (1983 to 1986) and the chairmanship of Formula Shell'sReynaldo Marquez (1987 to 1990).[28]
Philippine Cup
The PBA D-League opened its first tournament, the 2022 Aspirant's Cup for the first time in two years on July 7.[29]
Source: PBA.ph Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if two teams are tied, head-to-head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient); if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient; 4) coin toss[31] Notes:
Source: PBA.ph Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if two teams are tied, head-to-head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient); if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient; 4) coin toss[32] (G) Guests Notes:
Source: PBA.ph Rules for classification: 1) winning percentage; 2) if two teams are tied, head-to-head record; if three or more teams are tied, head-to-head goal average (quotient); if tied for 8th, one-game playoff; 3) overall quotient; 4) coin toss[33] Notes:
^"PBA braces for compact 47th season with return of three-conference format". PBA.ph. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022. The Philippine Cup ushers the pro league's 2022–23 calendar of schedule that will also see the return of the mid-season Commissioner's Cup following a two-year absence... the Commissioner's Cup will be played from October 2 to January 25 [2023], with the league's participation in the home-and-away East Asia Super League (EASL) being played in between. Finally, the season-ending Governors Cup is set from Feb. 1 to May 10...
