The participating teams were Filipino Cup champion YCO Shine Masters, Magnolia Juice Drinks, RFM-Swifts, Lhuillier-Converse, Purefoods, Sta.Lucia Realty, Philips Sardines and newcomer Lady's Choice.
RFM-Swifts and YCO arranged a best-of-three championship showdown by topping the semifinal round with identical 5-1 won-loss slates, Philips Sardines (4-2) and Golden Dragon of Taiwan (3-3 in a tie with Hyundai) dispute third place honors, Purefoods was 1-5 and winless Clark (Pacific) All-stars at 0-6.
[3] RFM-Swifts under coach Yeng Guiao, who called the shots for the hotdogs only for this tournament, won their first PABL title with a two-game sweep off YCO Shine Masters.
Golden Dragon of Taiwan won third place via higher point difference following a victory over Philips that tied their series at one game apiece.
Cebu-based Mama's Love and the newly formed MIESCOR Builders from Manila Electric Company, a power in major basketball in the early 1970s before Martial Law, joined the eight other ballclubs, raising the participating teams to 10.
A special tournament called Philippine Cup was held from August 3 to 10, featuring the Philippine men's national team, coach by Joe Lipa and sponsored by Philips Sardines, a PABL selection carrying the brand Rebisco, the US NCAA Selection sponsored by Swifts, Shanghai from China and a team from Egypt.
Swift's-USA, PABL-Philips and Egypt ended the round with similar 3-1 slates but the Filipinos took the second finals slot over the Egyptians via a better FIBA goal average.
[13] Following the disbandment of YCO Shine Masters and Lady's Choice and with Mama's Love not taking part of the league's last offering of the season, seven teams were left to play in the Maharlika Cup which opens on October 10.
[17] Magnolia Ice Cream won their second league title with a 3-1 series win over RFM-Swift Hotdogs, which had new acquisitions Alvin Patrimonio and Glenn Capacio from the disbanded YCO ballclub.