Wikipedia - PBA Commissioner's Cup
The PBA Commissioner's Cup is a tournament of the Philippine Basketball Association. Along with the PBA Governors' Cup, the tournament (also named as "conference") 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 tournament was discontinued when the Invitational Championship was reintroduced in 2003. From 2004 to 2010, the league decreased their tournaments per season from three to two competitions; 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 second competition of the PBA season after the league re-adopted the three conference format.
The Commissioner's Cup also refers to the trophy awarded to the champion team.
History
1993–1998
During the 1993 PBA season, the league moved the All-Filipino Conference as the first tournament of the season and made the Second Conference as the Commissioner's Cup, a reference to the PBA Commissioner. The conference was the second tournament held in a PBA season.
The Swift/Sunkist franchise won the tournament in 1993 and 1995. Purefoods, with Kenny Redfield as import and Chot Reyes as head coach, defeated Alaska in 1994.
During Alaska's grandslam season of 1996, they won the Commissioners Cup title over Shell in a grueling seven-game series. The Gordon's Gin Boars ended their six-year drought, winning over the Milkmen in 1997, giving playing coach Robert Jaworski his last PBA title on both capacities. A year later, Alaska had Devin Davis as import to win the title over San Miguel.
1999–2002
From 1999 to 2000, San Miguel won the Commissioners Cup with Terquin Mott and Stephen Howard as imports. But in 2001, the Beermen were upset by the Red Bull Thunder, with Best Import Antonio Lang in six games.
In 2002, with most of the teams' star players are with the national squad, the PBA once again allowed teams to take two imports with a combined 13 feet and six inches maximum height limit. Red Bull won the series over Talk 'N Text in seven games, its second straight. No team has won two straight Commissioner's Cups since then.
2010s
The tournament was retired in 2003 after the re-introduction of the Invitational Championship as the second conference of the season but was eventually reactivated in 2011 after the league restored the three-conference season format. The 2011 Commissioner's Cup also saw the return of Smart Gilas, the Philippine national team, to the PBA after last playing in the 2009–10 Philippine Cup. They became the first national team to qualify for the playoffs. However, they would be defeated by the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the semifinals. The Kings would then lose to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Finals in six games.
2020s
In 2020, the Commissioner's Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following season saw only two conferences, the Philippine Cup and the Governors' Cup. It made its return during the 2022–23 season. In this season, the Bay Area Dragons joined the league as a guest team. Although they had they finished first in the standings in the elimination rounds, they would lose to Ginebra in the Finals. For the 2023–24 season, the Commissioner's Cup was the opening tournament.
The tournament is organized by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the oldest professional basketball league in Asia. The Commissioner's Cup is one of the three conferences held by the PBA each season, with the other two being the Philippine Cup and the Governors' Cup.
The Commissioner's Cup features a round-robin format, where the participating teams compete against each other in a series of games. The tournament typically lasts for several months, with intense competition and thrilling matches throughout.
What sets the Commissioner's Cup apart from the other conferences is the inclusion of imports. Each team is allowed to have a foreign player, known as an import, who adds an extra level of excitement and competitiveness to the games. These imports are often highly skilled and talented players from different parts of the world, bringing a diverse and international flavor to the tournament.
The Commissioner's Cup showcases the best of Philippine basketball, with teams composed of top local players and imports working together to achieve victory. The tournament is known for its fast-paced and high-scoring games, with teams displaying their skills, strategies, and teamwork on the court.
Fans eagerly support their favorite teams and players, filling the stadiums with energy and enthusiasm. The Commissioner's Cup has a strong following, with basketball enthusiasts from all over the country tuning in to watch the games on television or attending them in person.
The tournament culminates in the playoffs, where the top teams battle it out for the championship title. The playoffs are a thrilling and intense stage, with each game becoming more crucial as teams fight for a spot in the finals.
The Philippines PBA Commissioner's Cup is not only a basketball tournament but also a celebration of the sport's rich history and culture in the Philippines. It brings together fans, players, and teams in a display of passion, skill, and sportsmanship, making it a truly unforgettable event in the Philippine basketball calendar.