1988 PBA season

Season highlights

• The Tanduay Rhum Makers filed a leave on absence for the 1988 season on January 16, 1988, citing realignment of corporate objectives. After Tanduay filed a leave, some remnants were absorbed, along with several amateur prospects by Purefoods Corporation, which joined the league after buying a franchise worth P300,000.
• PBA deputy commissioner Rudy Salud became the league's third commissioner. Under Salud's leadership, the PBA soared to greater heights, the Purefoods Hotdogs' entry, along with the never-say-die attitude of the league's most popular team Añejo Rum 65ers, contributed largely to a box-office success in gate attendance.
• Amateur standout Alvin Patrimonio, who was a subject of a bitter tug-of-war between the PBA's newest team Purefoods Hotdogs and his mother ballclub in the PABL, corporate rival RFM-Swifts, finally made his PBA debut on June 30.
• A blockbuster trade took place before the opening of the Third Conference as veterans Ramon Fernandez of Purefoods, who was bench in the All-Filipino title-series, and Abet Guidaben of San Miguel were traded to each other by their respective ballclubs.
• Ramon Fernandez won his fourth Most Valuable Player trophy as he continued his tradition of winning the prestigious award every two years starting in 1982.

  Opening ceremonies

Champions

• Open Conference: San Miguel Beermen
• All-Filipino Conference: Añejo Rum 65
• Reinforced Conference: San Miguel Beermen
• Team with best win-loss percentage: San Miguel Beermen
• Best Team of the Year: San Miguel Beermen

  Individual awards

• Most Valuable Player: Ramon Fernandez
• Rookie of the Year: Jojo Lastimosa
• Most Improved Player: Alvin Teng
• Best Import-Open Conference: Jamie Waller
• Best Import-Reinforced Conference: Bobby Parks
• Mythical Five:
• *Ricardo Brown
• *Hector Calma
• *Abet Guidaben
• *Ramon Fernandez
• *Allan Caidic
• Mythical Second Team:
• *Robert Jaworski
• *Jojo Lastimosa
• *Jerry Codiñera
• *Elpidio Villamin
• *Dondon Ampalayo
• All-Defensive Team:
• *Abe King
• *Philip Cezar
• *Elpidio Villamin
• *Robert Jaworski
• *Biboy Ravanes

  Cumulative standings