2008–09 PBA Philippine Cup

In a battle of the two teams owned by the San Miguel Corporation, the Beermen escaped with a one-point win at game 1. The Kings averted elimination when the Beermen collapsed at Game 2, but Dondon Hontiveros lead the charge at game 3's fourth quarter to prevent a second-consecutive PBA championship for Ginebra as the Beermen closed out the Kings in a sold-out Cuneta Astrodome.

(4) Rain or Shine vs (5) Sta. Lucia

In their first playoff appearance since joining the league in 2006, the Elasto Painters were overwhelmed in Game 1 by the defending champions, who played with the comebacking

Semifinals

(1) Alaska vs (5) Sta. Lucia

In a rematch of the 2007-08 semifinals series, the Aces won two consecutive game to lead the series 2–0. However, the Realtors won Game 3 to cut the series lead. But Alaska, seeking to prevent what happened last year, won Game 4 to take a commanding 3–1 series lead. Sta. Lucia won Game 5 but they came out short in Game 6 with

Unlike the other semifinal which was a slow defensive battle, the Talk 'N Text–San Miguel matchup was a high-scoring offensive-minded series, with both teams passing the century mark in all of the games. The Texters walloped the winded Beermen in Game 1 with a 29-point win, but the Beermen were able to get even with a Game 2 victory. The Texters escaped at Game 3 thanks to Jimmy Alapag's clutch baskets, despite Hontiveros' 39-point explosion.

In a do-or-die Game 5,

• Finals MVP:
  Talk 'N Text
  )
• Best Player of the Conference:
  Willie Miller (Alaska Aces)^[2]
• Players of the Week:
  • October 4–5:
    Solomon Mercado (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
    )
  • October 6–12:
    Barangay Ginebra Kings
    )
  • October 13–19:
    Willie Miller (Alaska Aces
    )
  • October 20–26:
    Coca-Cola Tigers
    )
  • October 27 – November 2:
    Purefoods TJ Giants
    )
  • November 3–9: Gary David (Air21 Express)
  • November 10–16:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )
  • November 17–23:
    Coca-Cola Tigers
    )
  • November 24–30:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )
  • December 1 – 7:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )
  • December 8–14:
    Red Bull Barako
    )
  • December 15–21:
    Coca-Cola Tigers) and Joseph Yeo (Sta. Lucia Realtors
    )
  • December 22–28:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )
  • December 29 – January 4: Bonbon Custodio (San Miguel Beermen)
  • January 5–11: Dondon Hontiveros (San Miguel Beermen)
  • January 12–18:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )
  • January 19–25:
    Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
    )