The 2010–11 PBA season was the 36th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. It started on October 3, 2010 and ended on August 21, 2011. The season marked the return of the original three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference. The import-laden Commissioner's Cup returned as the second tournament, while the Governors' Cup also returned, serving as the third conference which also served as an import-laden tournament.
The first activity of the season is the 2010 PBA Draft held on August 29 at the Market! Market! in Taguig.
Pre-season events
Player movement
Key transactions: Trades: Air21 traded Doug Kramer to Rain or Shine for Marcy Arellano. Meralco dealt Ali Peek to Air21 for Beau Belga. Peek was then traded to Talk 'N Text for J.R. Quiñahan. Later on a separate transaction, Talk 'N Text traded Mark Cardona to Air21 in exchange of their 2010 first round pick. Air21 later traded Cardona to Meralco in exchange of Joshua Urbiztondo and Meralco's 2010 1st round pick. B-Meg Derby Ace traded Paul Artadi to San Miguel in exchange of Jonas Villanueva. Air21, acting as a conduit team, will get B-Meg Derby Ace's 2014 1st draft pick in exchange of their 2013 2nd round pick. Powerade traded Larry Rodriguez to Rain or Shine in exchange for Eddie Laure and Rain or Shine's 2011 1st round draft pick. Meralco traded Jason Misolas and Khasim Mirza to Barako Bull for Rob Reyes. Reyes was then traded, along with Meralco's 2011 and 2012 2nd round picks to Powerade in exchange for Asi Taulava. Powerade's Ken Bono was also traded to Barako Bull for the team's 2013 2nd round draft pick.
Signing: Rain or Shine signed John Ferriols and Paolo Bugia. Talk 'N Text signed Rich Alvarez.
Rule changes
The PBA board approved the rule changes for implementation starting this season:
Notable occurrences
Angelico "Chito" Salud became the eight commissioner of the league after the incumbent Sonny Barrios retired from his post. The PBA board approved the sale of the Sta. Lucia team franchise to Meralco. The team will now be known as the Meralco Bolts. The league will return to a three-conference format starting this season. Coca-Cola Philippines announced that they will rechristen the Coca-Cola Tigers as the Powerade Tigers. The Alaska Aces retired the jerseys of Johnny Abarrientos and Bong Hawkins in celebration of the 25th year of their franchise on September 28.
Opening ceremonies
The season began on October 3 with the Meralco Bolts defeating the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 73-72.
The muses for the participating teams are as follows:
2010–11 Philippine Cup
Transactions
Player movement
Key transactions: Trades: Barako Bull Energy Boosters trades Hans Thiele to the Meralco Bolts in exchange for Dennis Daa. San Miguel Beermen trades Lordy Tugade and Chris Canta to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in exchange for Sunday Salvacion. Meralco Bolts trades Marlou Aquino, Khasim Mirza, Pong Escobal and a future draft pick to the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in exchange for Reed Juntilla and Mark Isip.
Notable events
Asi Taulava of Meralco, Solomon Mercado of Rain or Shine and Kelly Williams of Talk 'N Text will be loaned to Smart Gilas for the duration of the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. PBA Commissioner Chito Salud proposed a "Developmental League" patterned after the NBA D-League after the merger of Liga Pilipinas and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) fell out. The D-League proposal was eventually approved by the board of governors on January 25 and it is set to be launch on March. The board of governors approve the request of the Barako Bull Energy Boosters for a leave of absence for this season's Commissioner's Cup. The Smart Gilas Philippine basketball team will temporarily take over its place. All of the players of the Barako Bull will be put in a dispersal draft and will return to their mother team after the conference ends.
Elimination round
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
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*Team has twice-to-beat advantage. Team #1 only has to win once, while Team #2 has to win twice.
Semifinals
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Finals
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Finals MVP: Jimmy Alapag and Jayson Castro (Talk 'N Text) Best Player of the Conference: Jay Washington (San Miguel)