Year 2024 was unlike any other for the PBA.
From the introduction of the four-point line, to Meralco’s first PBA championship, to Leo Austria’s return to San Miguel as head coach, compelling stories were aplenty.
Here are some of the biggest headlines in the league this year.
San Miguel pays homage to Arwind Santos
San Miguel honored Arwind Santos with a brief but poignant jersey retirement last May at the PhilSports Arena.
Santos posed for pictures with June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, and Alex Cabagnot, marking a meaningful reunion of the formidable “Death Five” that dominated the league in the 2010s with eight championships.
[ALSO READ: SMB jersey retirement won't stop Arwind Santos from attempting a basketball comeback: ‘Hindi ko lang alam kung saan’]
Johnathan Williams as Best Import
Not a few were shocked when Johnathan Williams was announced as Best Import of the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup.
Most expected Tyler Bey or Bennie Boatwright, who were reinforcing Finals protagonists Magnolia and San Miguel, respectively.
[ALSO READ: PBA: CJ Perez wins BPC award, Johnathan Williams emerges as top import]
But one cannot deny the impact Williams had on Phoenix, which made it to the semifinals of the import-spiced conference.
For leading Phoenix to a dream playoff run, Williams became the first PBA Best Import not from an SMC or MVP team since Mike Harris for Alaska in 2018.
Return of Austria
At the end of the year, Jorge Gallent and Leo Austria switched roles anew at San Miguel, with the latter getting his old job back as head coach, and former made consultant.
After a pedestrian performance early in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup, the defending champion Beermen welcomed Austria again.
The 66-year-old mentor won nine championships with San Miguel, before being replaced by Gallent early in 2023.
Four-point line
The PBA implemented what no other league in the world, professional or amateur, would: introduce a four-point line.
Chris Banchero made the first basket from that range in Meralco’s Season 49 Governors’ Cup opener against Magnolia.
[ALSO READ: FOR FOUR! Chris Banchero makes first official 4-point shot in PBA history]
The line drew mixed reaction from players, coaches, and fans alike. Nevertheless, one cannot argue that is quite the innovation and attraction.
[ALSO READ: PBA’s new four-point line draws mixed reactions from players, coaches]
Meralco is a PBA champion for the first time
Meralco was blessed with its first PBA championship in franchise history in the Season 48 Philippine Cup.
What made the victory even sweeter was it came at the expense of longtime All-Filipino kings San Miguel Beermen.
Chris Newsome was adjudged Finals MVP of the Meralco team, after a brilliant series capped by the game-winner in Game 6.
[ALSO READ: Picture perfect victory: Newly crowned Meralco Bolts react to PBA championship photos]
June Mar Fajardo’s 8th MVP
There’s no denying June Mar Fajardo is the best of this generation, perhaps of all generations even.
This after the San Miguel superstar claimed a record-extending eighth Most Valuable Player award during a brief awarding ceremony ushering in Season 49.
Fajardo added this recognition to his growing list of accolades that includes 10 Best Player of the Conference nods, also a PBA record.
[ALSO READ: June Mar Fajardo's record-extending 8th MVP leads PBA Leo Awards list]
Marcio Lassiter is new 3-point king
No one could have scripted it better.
Marcio Lassiter was hailed the PBA’s new three-point king on a night he dropped four triples in the opening quarter of San Miguel’s 131-82 drubbing of Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup last September.
With his 1,251st triple that night, Lassiter dethroned the great Jimmy Alapag, who held the record for eight years.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Marcio Lassiter is new 3-point king, steers San Miguel to rout of Ginebra]
Chot Reyes applies lessons learned for another PBA championship
Chot Reyes got vindication after winning a 10th PBA title in his latest return to the league.
This as he steered TNT to back-to-back Governors’ Cup championships with a team reinforced by two-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
After being on the receiving end of online vitriol in the past, Reyes responded with the ultimate clap back, beating longtime rival and friend in Tim Cone in a superb six-game series.
[ALSO READ: After claiming 10th PBA title, TNT coach Chot Reyes is not done winning and learning]
Jayson Castro reaches new milestone
Jayson Castro was hailed Finals MVP in TNT’s Season 49 Governors’ Cup conquest of the Gin Kings.
The two-time Asia’s Best Point Guard normed 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in the six-game series.
While it was his third Finals MVP plum, it was the first time he won it alone. His first two Finals MVPs were shared with Jimmy Alapag in 2011.
[ALSO READ: Jayson Castro deflects credit to TNT teammates after winning PBA Finals MVP award]
John Amores shooting incident
NorthPort cager John Amores was charged with attempted homicide after figuring in a shooting incident in Laguna.
The PBA and the Batang Pier later slapped the enigmatic cager with indefinite suspensions.
Before Christmas, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) reportedly revoked Amores’ license.
The decision means that Amores won’t be receiving any salary from NorthPort, pending a decision of an appeal.
[ALSO READ: No play, no pay applies for embattled John Amores after GAB license revoked, says PBA]
PBA welcomes another guest team
Two seasons prior, the Bay Area Dragons challenged the PBA teams in the Commissioner’s Cup, eventually matching up with Ginebra in an epic seven-game finale.
In 2024, the PBA welcomed another guest team in Eastern.
Eastern are a Hong Kong-based squad that parades key remnants from the Bay Area team in Hayden Blankley, Kobey Lam, and Glen Yang.
Christian Standhardinger goes to Terrafirma, and then retires
After four championships with Ginebra, Christian Standhardinger was shipped to the Dyip along with Stanley Pringle before Season 49 unfurled.
In return, the Gin Kings got younger stars in Stephen Holt and Isaac Go.
The top overall pick in 2017 did play for the Dyip in the Governors’ Cup before injuries derailed his run.
Months later, Terrafirma Governor Bobby Rosales confirmed the Fil-German is set to retire from the PBA.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Christian Standhardinger set to retire, Terrafirma official bares]
Terrence Romeo, Vic Manuel trade
Here’s a transaction that’s similar in magnitude as the Standhardinger trade.
The Beermen also traded away Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel to the Dyip for Juami Tiongson and Andreas Cahilig.
Manuel has been basking in the luxury of extended playing minutes, while Romeo has yet to play owing to an undisclosed injury.
[ALSO READ: Vic Manuel shows flash of old self, fires 23 points in Terrafirma debut]
Justine Baltazar makes much-awaited PBA debut
Converge, a young team on the rise, waited months before being able to field in this year’s top pick in Justin Baltazar.
But come December, Baltazar was finally able to join a young core that includes Justin Arana, Jordan Heading, and Alec Stockton as the FiberXers aim to become a serious title contender in the PBA.
Before suiting up for Converge, he had to fulfill his contract with MPBL’s Pampanga Lanters. He led the team to back-to-back titles.
[ALSO READ: Justine Baltazar credits breakout game to PBA legend Danny Ildefonso, among other things]