The 2009–10 PBA season was the 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The season formally opened on October 11, 2009, and ended on August 18, 2010. The league started the season with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while finishing the season with the import-laiden Fiesta Conference.
The PBA board approved the rule changes for implementation starting in the pre-season games:[7][8]
Rule changes (effective for the 2009–10 PBA season)
# The three-point line's distance is set back to 22 feet. The line was previously 20.6 feet away from the basket.
The "key" is now a rectangle. It was previously the FIBA standard trapezoid key.
The 24-second violation will be ignored if the opposing team has clear possession of the basketball.
All parts of the backboard are considered in play when struck by the ball except the back of the backboard, which is not in play.
The ball is considered out of bounds if the ball hits the top of the board and passes directly behind the backboard from any point.
The ball is considered out of bounds if the ball hits the top of the board and then hits the game clock, shot clock, support or any device above the backboard.
It is considered a violation attempting a field goal directly behind the backboard.
Any ball that rebounds and goes over the top and passes directly behind the backboard without hitting any part of the board is considered out-of-bounds.
Hanging on the rim after a dunk is now allowed (monkey ride).
Landing spot rule:
If without contact, Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 is called - two free throws are awarded, ball possession is retained by team of offended player, guilty player sits for (3) three playing minutes.
If with contact, Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 is called - two free throws are awarded, team of offended player retains ball possession, and guilty player is ejected from the game. Automatic Fine of minimum P10,000.00. Minimum of one day suspension if contact resulted in dire consequence (i.e. injury to player resulting in inability to play).
A tip-in is considered act of shooting.
A player screening an opponent must have both feet on the floor when contact occurs. A player setting a screen can move his body into a new but equal position sideways provided his shoulders are directly squared with his foot.
The screener cannot lean forward towards the defender or extend any part of his body (i.e., extending an arm, leg or hips) in attempting to impede the basketball defender's movement in covering his man.
Pushing or bumping is illegal personal contact of an opponent in which a defensive player forcibly moves or attempts to move a shooter, cutter or dribbler wherein the offensive player is placed at a disadvantage. A foul will be called if the defender bumps 1) a shooter, 2) a cutter, 3) a dribbler who loses the ball.
Falling down to fake a foul (flopping) will not be tolerated. Referees will now give a warning on the first infraction. Subsequently, a technical foul will be given on the next violation.
Notable occurrences
The third set of inductees for the PBA Hall of Fame were awarded on October 9 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati.[9]
The pre-season was started on September 25 but was cut short due to the onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila.
After playing with just one game with the Burger King Whoppers, top rookie pick Japeth Aguilar was traded to Talk 'N Text after a three-way trade involving Barako Bull. Burger Kings was able to get Barako Bull's 2010 (previously acquired by Talk ‘N Text) and 2012 first-round picks and will also take Talk ‘N Text’s 2013 and 2014 first-round picks. Barako Bull will now have the rights on Orlando Daroya while Talk ‘N Text will get Aguilar, who will be loaned to Smart Gilas.[10]
Wynne Arboleda of the Burger King Whoppers was suspended without pay for the rest of the season plus one game after a violent altercation with a fan during their game against Smart Gilas last October 16. He also drew a PhP20,000 fine. While serving his suspension, Arboleda cannot be present at the playing venues during Burger King’s games.[11]
Talk 'N Text walked out of the playing court during their quarterfinal game with Barangay Ginebra leading 27–20 with a minute left in the first quarter after Ranidel de Ocampo was called for a flagrant foul against Ronald Tubid.[13] Besides forfeiting Game 4 to their opponent, Commissioner Sonny Barrios penalized the telecommunication franchise of fines ranging over P1 million. The P500,000 for the forfeiture (the said amount going to Barangay Ginebra as indicated to the league's by-laws), an additional P500,000 fine, which will go directly to the league's Players’ Educational Trust Fund, and the team's share in the gate receipts and TV revenues for that particular game, which ranges anywhere between P200,000 to P250,000.[14]
The board of governors approved stiffer penalties for teams that would walk out of a game and rookie draftees who would turn their back on the league.[18]
Wynne Arboleda returned as an active player of the Air21 Express after he was reinstated by the Office of the Commissioner after serving eight months of suspension.[19]
