View source for PBA Governors' Cup

{{Short description|Philippine Basketball Association conference}}
{{for|the baseball trophy|Governors' Cup}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox sports league
|title = PBA Governors' Cup
|last_season = 2024 PBA Governors' Cup
|sport = Basketball
|logo = PBA Governors' Cup trophy - 2016.png
|caption = The PBA Governors' Cup trophy won by [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]] in [[2016 PBA Governors' Cup finals|2016]].
|founded = {{start date and age|1993}}
|inaugural = [[1993 PBA Governors' Cup|1993]]
|champion = [[TNT Tropang Giga]] (2nd title)
|champ_season = [[2024 PBA Governors' Cup|2024]]
}}

The '''PBA Governors' Cup''' is one of three active conferences in the [[Philippine Basketball Association]] (PBA). It is also one of two conferences, the other being the [[PBA Commissioner's Cup|Commissioner's Cup]] which allows teams to hire a single foreign player, known as an "import". The ''Governors' Cup'' also refers to the trophy awarded to the champion team.

The first run of the Governors' Cup lasted from [[1993 PBA season|1993]] to [[2002 PBA season|2002]]. In 2003, it was replaced by the returning [[2003 PBA Reinforced Conference|Reinforced Conference]], and from [[2004 PBA Fiesta Conference|2004]] to [[2009–10 PBA season|2010]], the [[PBA Fiesta Conference|Fiesta Conference]] was held as the lone import-laden conference. The conference was then reinstated [[2010–11 PBA season|2011]] when the league reverted back to a three-conference format.

The [[TNT Tropang 5G]] are the current defending Governors' champions, winning the [[2024 PBA Governors' Cup]] when they were known as the TNT Tropang Giga. The [[San Miguel Beermen]] have won the most Governors' Cup titles with five.

==History==
During the [[1993 PBA season]], the league renamed the Third Conference as the Governors' Cup, a reference to the members of the PBA Board of Governors. The singular name "Governor" refers to the board representative of each team. The conference usually was the last tournament held in a PBA season.

After San Miguel won the first Governors Cup in 1993, Alaska dominated the tournament from [[1994 PBA season|1994]]-[[1997 PBA season|1997]]. In [[1998 PBA season|1998]], due to the league's commitment with the [[Philippine Centennial Team]], they allowed each team to take two imports with a combined height of 12 feet. Shell, with no players taken for the [[Philippines men's national basketball team|national team]], won the tournament over Mobiline.

San Miguel Beer won the tournament from [[1999 PBA season|1999]]-[[2000 PBA season|2000]] before Sta. Lucia upset the Beermen a year later, giving the Realtors its first PBA title. In [[2002 PBA season|2002]], due to the league's commitment to the national team, the Governors Cup became the first conference, while moving the [[PBA Philippine Cup|All-Filipino Conference]] as its third and last tournament. Since most of the teams' star players were with the national squad, the PBA once again allowed teams to take two imports with a 12-foot maximum total height limit. Purefoods beat Alaska in seven games to win the title.

The tournament was retired in 2003 after the re-introduction of the Reinforced Conference as the third conference of the season but was eventually reactivated in 2011 after the league restored the three-conference season format.

==Tournament format==
From 1993 to 1995, the teams were divided into two groups in the group stage. The teams in the same group will play against each other once and against teams in the other group twice. After the eliminations, the top five teams will advance to a double round-robin semifinals. A playoff incentive will be given to a team that will win five of their eight semifinal games should they fail to get the top two finals berths. The top two teams (or the No. 1 team and the winner of the playoff between team with at least 5 semifinal wins and the No. 2 team) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series.

In 1996, the league adopted a quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format with the top two seeds advancing automatically to the semifinals and the next four teams will be matched up in the quarterfinals after the eliminations.

A different tournament format was used in 1998 when it carried over the elimination standings of the preceding [[1998 PBA Centennial Cup|Centennial Cup]]. The teams were pitted again in a single round-robin eliminations with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. The remaining teams will compete in a single round-robin semifinals, with the top two teams advancing in the finals.

In 1999, a new quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format was introduced due to the entry of the [[Tanduay Rhum Masters]]. The top eight teams after a round-robin eliminations will advance to the quarterfinals. The top two seeds will have a twice-to-beat advantage against the last two seeded teams. Other seeded teams will compete in a best-of-three playoffs.

After the reintroduction of the tournament in 2011, the league adopted a tournament format similar on what was used in [[1995 PBA Governors Cup|1995]]. Dubbed as the "classic PBA format",<ref>[http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/pba-reverts-to-old-school-format-for-2012-governors-cup PBA reverts to old-school format for 2012 Governors’ Cup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521210422/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/pba-reverts-to-old-school-format-for-2012-governors-cup |date=May 21, 2012 }}, InterAKTV, May 19, 2012</ref> the tournament begins in a single round-robin eliminations. The top six teams will advance in a single round-robin semifinals. A playoff incentive will be given to a team that will win four of their five semifinal games should they fail to get the top two finals berths. The top two teams (or the No. 1 team and the winner of the playoff between team with at least 5 semifinal wins and the No. 2 team) will face each other in a best-of-seven championship series.

The tournament format since the 2013 edition was changed to a quarterfinal-semifinal playoff format. The top eight teams after a single round-robin group stage will advance to the quarterfinals. The top four teams will have a twice-to-beat incentive against their opponents during this round. The winners will advance to a best of five semifinal round and the winners of this round will meet in a best-of-seven championship series.

In 2024, a new format is formed. In this new format each team plays each member of their group twice with the Top 4 teams in the groups advancing to a best-of-five crossover quarterfinals. The groups' top seeds play the other group's lowest seeds while the No. 2 take on the other's No. 3 seed in a best-of-five.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Groups unveiled as Governors’ Cup returns with new format |url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/7/16/groups-unveiled-as-governors-cup-returns-with-new-format |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en}}</ref>

==Import rules==
The height limit for import players varies from every year. In 2011, the height adopted a handicapping system in which the top two teams of the combined results of the Philippine and Commissioner's Cups are allowed to have an import with a 6'2" (1.88 m) height limit. The next four teams will be allowed with a 6'4" (1.93 m) import and the last two teams will be allowed with a 6'6" (1.98 m) import. In 2012, the handicapping was scrapped and the league set the height limit of imports to 6'5" (1.95 m).

While the tournament is underway, a team can play with an All-Filipino lineup only once. Imports can be replaced in the whole duration of the tournament (including finals).

In 1998 and 2002 editions, the teams allowed to have two imports.

Teams were allowed to hire an additional import with Asian heritage (called as the Asian import) with a height limit of 6'3", from 2015 to 2016. The Asian heritage import provision was shelved in 2017 in lieu of the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/news/tapping-of-asian-imports-shelved-at-the-moment-as-pba-board-looking-to |title=PBA schedule conflict with Fiba Asia Cup prompts league to shelve hiring of Asian imports |website=Spin.ph |date=July 7, 2017}}</ref>

==Trophy design==
[[File:PBA Governors' Cup Trophy.png|150px|thumb|right|The PBA Governors' Cup trophy won by the [[Purefoods TJ Hotdogs]] in [[2002 PBA Governors' Cup finals|2002]]. This design was used from 1994 to 2002 and on 2011.]]
The trophy design used since the 1994 season features the Governors' Cup with the league logo at the front. The cup is placed in a base where all of the logos of the participating teams of the tournament are engraved. A unique feature of this trophy is that the champion team's logo is placed at the front middle of the trophy with the runner-up at its left and the third place at the right. The rest of the team logos are arranged according to their rankings at the conclusion of the tournament. 
Red, blue and yellow ribbons were placed in the handles of the trophy, mirroring the colors in the PBA logo. The winner keeps permanent possession of the trophy and a new one is created every year. In 2012, the trophy's cup handles were modified and the league logo was replaced with the tournament's season logo.

A prototype version of this trophy, first shown during the 1994 PBA opening ceremonies, is on display at the lobby of the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

==List of champions==

===Per season===

{{legend|#98fb98|Won three or more consecutive tournaments|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable"
!Season
!Champion
!Runner-up
!Series
!Details
|-
|{{pbay|1993}}
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[Swift Mighty Meaty Hotdogs]]
|[[1993 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–1]]
|[[1993 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|- bgcolor="#98fb98"
|{{pbay|1994}}
|[[Alaska Milkmen]]
|[[Swift Mighty Meaties]]
|[[1994 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[1994 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|- bgcolor="#98fb98"
|{{pbay|1995}}
|[[Alaska Milkmen]]
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[1995 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[1995 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|- bgcolor="#98fb98"
|{{pbay|1996}}
|[[Alaska Milkmen]]
|[[Ginebra San Miguel (PBA)|Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[1996 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–1]]
|[[1996 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|- bgcolor="#98fb98"
|{{pbay|1997}}
|[[Alaska Milkmen]]
|[[Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies]]
|[[1997 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–1]]
|[[1997 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|1998}}
|[[Formula Shell Zoom Masters]]
|[[Mobiline Phone Pals]]
|[[1998 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[1998 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|1999}}
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[Alaska Milkmen]]
|[[1999 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[1999 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2000}}
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs]]
|[[2000 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–1]]
|[[2000 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2001}}
|[[Sta. Lucia Realtors]]
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[2001 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2001 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2002}}
|[[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs]]
|[[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska Aces]]
|[[2002 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[2002 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|colspan=5|2003–2010: ''no tournament held''
|-
|{{pbay|2010}}
|[[Petron Blaze Boosters]]
|[[Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters]]
|[[2011 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[2011 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2011}}
|[[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters]]
|[[B-Meg Llamados]]
|[[2012 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[2012 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2012}}
|[[San Mig Coffee Mixers]]
|[[Petron Blaze Boosters]]
|[[2013 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[2013 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2013}}
|[[San Mig Super Coffee Mixers]]
|[[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters]]
|[[2014 PBA Governors' Cup finals|3–2]]
|[[2014 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2014}}
|[[San Miguel Beermen]]
|[[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska Aces]]
|[[2015 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–0]]
|[[2015 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2015}}
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[Meralco Bolts]]
|[[2016 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2016 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2016}}
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[Meralco Bolts]]
|[[2017 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–3]]
|[[2017 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2017}}
|[[Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok]]
|[[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska Aces]]
|[[2018 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2018 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2019}}
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[Meralco Bolts]]
|[[2019 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–1]]
|[[2019 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2020}}
| colspan=4 align=center|'''Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]'''
|-
|{{pbay|2021}}
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[Meralco Bolts]]
|[[2021 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2021 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2022}}
|[[TNT Tropang Giga]]
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[2023 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2023 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|-
|{{pbay|2023}}
| colspan=4 align=center|''no tournament held due to [[2023 FIBA World Cup]] and [[2022 Asian Games]]''
|-
|{{pbay|2024}}
|[[TNT Tropang Giga]]
|[[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel]]
|[[2024 PBA Governors' Cup finals|4–2]]
|[[2024 PBA Governors' Cup|tournament details]]
|}

===Per franchise===
{| class="wikitable"
!Total!!Team!!Last championship
|-
| 5 || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel/Petron]] || [[2015 PBA Governors' Cup|2015]]
|-
| rowspan=3|4 || [[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska]]* || [[1997 PBA Governors' Cup|1997]]
|-
| [[Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots|Magnolia/San Mig Super Coffee/San Mig Coffee/Purefoods]] || [[2018 PBA Governors' Cup|2018]]
|-
| [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]] || [[2021 PBA Governors' Cup|2021]]
|-
|2 || [[TNT Tropang Giga|TNT]] || [[2024 PBA Governors' Cup|2024]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1 || [[Shell Turbo Chargers|Shell]]* || [[1998 PBA Governors' Cup|1998]]
|-
|[[Sta. Lucia Realtors|Sta. Lucia]]* || [[2001 PBA Governors' Cup|2001]]
|-
|[[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]] || [[2012 PBA Governors' Cup|2012]]
|}
:<nowiki>*</nowiki> Defunct franchise

==Individual awards==
===Best Player of the Conference===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color:#CFECEC; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| ^
|Denotes player who is still active in the PBA
|-
| style="background-color:#FFFF99; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:6em"| *
|Inducted into the [[PBA Hall of Fame]]
|-
|Player (X)
|Denotes the number of times the player has been named BPC
|}

{| class="wikitable"
!Season
!Best Player
!Team
|-
| [[1994 PBA Governors' Cup|1994]] || [[Vergel Meneses]] || [[Swift Mighty Meaties|Swift]] 
|-
| [[1995 PBA Governors' Cup|1995]] || !scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| [[Allan Caidic]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]] 
|-
| [[1996 PBA Governors' Cup|1996]] || [[Marlou Aquino]] || [[Ginebra San Miguel (PBA)|Ginebra]]
|-
| [[1997 PBA Governors' Cup|1997]] || !scope="row" style="background-color:#FFFF99"| [[Alvin Patrimonio]]* || [[Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies|Purefoods]]
|-
| [[1998 PBA Governors' Cup|1998]] || [[Jerry Codiñera]] || [[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs|Purefoods]]
|-
| [[1999 PBA Governors' Cup|1999]] || [[Danny Seigle]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[2000 PBA Governors' Cup|2000]] || [[Danny Ildefonso]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[2001 PBA Governors' Cup|2001]] || [[Danny Ildefonso]] (2) || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[2002 PBA Governors' Cup|2002]] || [[Rey Evangelista]] || [[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs|Purefoods]] 
|-
| [[2011 PBA Governors' Cup|2011]] || [[Arwind Santos]] || [[Petron Blaze Boosters|Petron]]
|-
| [[2012 PBA Governors' Cup|2012]] || [[Mark Caguioa]] || [[Barangay Ginebra Kings|Barangay Ginebra]]
|-
| [[2013 PBA Governors' Cup|2013]] || [[Arwind Santos]] (2) || [[Petron Blaze Boosters|Petron]]
|-
| [[2014 PBA Governors' Cup|2014]] || [[Ranidel de Ocampo]] || [[Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters|Talk 'N Text]]
|-
| [[2015 PBA Governors' Cup|2015]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[June Mar Fajardo]]^ || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[2016 PBA Governors' Cup|2016]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[Jayson Castro]]^ || [[TNT KaTropa|TNT]]
|-
| [[2017 PBA Governors' Cup|2017]] || [[Greg Slaughter]] || [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]]
|-
| [[2018 PBA Governors' Cup|2018]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[Paul Lee (basketball)|Paul Lee]]^ || [[Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok|Magnolia]]
|-
| [[2019 PBA Governors' Cup|2019]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[Christian Standhardinger]]^ || [[NorthPort Batang Pier|NorthPort]]
|-
| [[2021 PBA Governors' Cup|2021]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[Scottie Thompson (basketball)|Scottie Thompson]]^ || [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]]
|-
| [[2023 PBA Governors' Cup|2023]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[Christian Standhardinger]]^ (2) || [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]]
|-
| [[2024 PBA Governors' Cup|2024]] || style="background-color:#CFECEC"| [[June Mar Fajardo]]^ (2) || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|}

===Bobby Parks Best Import award===
{|class=wikitable
! Year !! Best Import || Team
|-
| [[1993 PBA Governors' Cup|1993]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Kenny Travis]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[1994 PBA Governors' Cup|1994]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Ronnie Coleman (basketball)|Ronnie Coleman]] || [[Pepsi Mega Bottlers|Pepsi]]
|-
| [[1995 PBA Governors' Cup|1995]] ||{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Stevin Smith]] || [[Sunkist Orange Juicers|Sunkist]]
|-
| [[1996 PBA Governors' Cup|1996]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Sean Chambers]] || [[Alaska Milkmen|Alaska]]
|-
| [[1997 PBA Governors' Cup|1997]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Larry Robinson]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[1998 PBA Governors' Cup|1998]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Silas Mills]] || [[Mobiline Phone Pals|Mobiline]]
|-
| [[1999 PBA Governors' Cup|1999]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Lamont Strothers]] || [[San Miguel Beermen|San Miguel]]
|-
| [[2000 PBA Governors' Cup|2000]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Derrick Brown (basketball, born 1973)|Derrick Brown]] || [[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs|Purefoods]]
|-
| [[2001 PBA Governors' Cup|2001]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Damian Owens]] || [[Sta. Lucia Realtors|Sta. Lucia]]
|-
| [[2002 PBA Governors' Cup|2002]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Derrick Brown (basketball, born 1973)|Derrick Brown]] (2) || [[Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs|Purefoods]]
|-
| [[2011 PBA Governors' Cup|2011]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Arizona Reid]] || [[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]]
|-
| [[2012 PBA Governors' Cup|2012]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Jamelle Cornley]] || [[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]]
|-
| [[2013 PBA Governors' Cup|2013]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Marqus Blakely]] || [[San Mig Coffee Mixers|San Mig Coffee]]
|-
| [[2014 PBA Governors' Cup|2014]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Arizona Reid]] (2) || [[Rain or Shine Elasto Painters|Rain or Shine]]
|-
| [[2015 PBA Governors' Cup|2015]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Romeo Travis]] || [[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska]]
|-
| [[2016 PBA Governors' Cup|2016]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Allen Durham]] || [[Meralco Bolts|Meralco]]
|-
| [[2017 PBA Governors' Cup|2017]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Allen Durham]] (2) || [[Meralco Bolts|Meralco]]
|-
| [[2018 PBA Governors' Cup|2018]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Mike Harris (basketball)|Mike Harris]] || [[Alaska Aces (PBA)|Alaska]]
|-
| [[2019 PBA Governors' Cup|2019]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Allen Durham]] (3) || [[Meralco Bolts|Meralco]]
|-
| [[2021 PBA Governors' Cup|2021]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Justin Brownlee]] || [[Barangay Ginebra San Miguel|Barangay Ginebra]]
|-
| [[2023 PBA Governors' Cup|2023]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Rondae Hollis-Jefferson]] || [[TNT Tropang Giga|TNT]]
|-
| [[2024 PBA Governors' Cup|2024]] || {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Rondae Hollis-Jefferson]] (2) || [[TNT Tropang Giga|TNT]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pba.ph PBA.ph]

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