Via Free Agency Via Trade Via Expansion Draft Via Free Agency Purefoods return to the PBA finals after two years of non-title playoff.
In the All-Filipino Cup, the Tender Juicy Hotdogs got the benefit of playing in the championship when the league forfeited Tanduay Rhum's two wins over them during the Best-of-five semifinal series where Fil-Sham Sonny Alvarado was fielded in.
With the series stands at 2-1 in their favor, Purefoods went on to win game four, 72–71 in overtime, on the heroics of guard Boyet Fernandez to reach the All-Filipino finals against the Alaska Milkmen.
Behind best import Derrick Brown, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs were on their second trip to the finals in the Governors Cup.
They played the defending champions San Miguel Beermen.