The 1986 PABL season is the fourth season of the Philippine Amateur Basketball League (PABL). Notable achievements The ESQ Merchants, carrying the colors of Pasig Giants, won the Asian Inter-city basketball tournament in Jakarta, Indonesia, by lording over commercial squads from Brunei, Singapore, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and host Jakarta, they scored a clean six-game sweep and ending the South Korea's four-year dominance in the Asian intercity cagefest by downing the Tigers from Seoul, 104–101 in overtime. Former Arellano stalwart Jojo Martin was later adjudged Most Valuable Player. Among the other members of the team were Hernani Demigillo, Gerardo Ramos, Jerome Cueto, Joel Santos, Tony Dela Cerna and Edgar Macaraya, who took over the offensive chores vacated by Allan Caidic. Invitational Cup The Invitational First Conference features commercial ballclubs and collegiate schools divided into two groups, barely a few weeks before the tournament started, teams started knocking on the PABL door as efforts to solicit team sponsorship rose to a fever pitch, the participating teams were down to only four, ESQ Marketing, RFM-Swifts, Mama's Love and newcomer Lhuillier Jewelers of Cebu when the league had a board meeting in early March. Last year's challenge the champions titlist Army Jungle Fighters of coach Charlie Badion and another new member Hope Cigarettes to be handled by Arturo Valenzona, came in as last minute entries. Two collegiate squads comprises the 8-team field in Division I, De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines, originally assigned to the second division but has been moved on the request of coach Joe Lipa and will play under the banner of Converse-Milkland. Division II were consist of UE Warriors, UST Glowing Goldies, Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Sebastian College, Letran Knights, Perpetual Help College, University of Manila and NCBA. Noteworthy among the players from their respective teams were Samboy Lim, Jojo Lastimosa, Al Solis, Jun Tan, Peter Aguilar, Peter Jao and Jesus Ramirez of Lhuillier. Allan Caidic, Edgar Macaraya, Jojo Villapando, Hernani Demigillo and Alvin Teng of ESQ Merchants. Zaldy Realubit and Yves Dignadice of Mama's Love. Renato Agustin, Glenn Capacio, Leo Isaac, Edgar Tanuan, Adriano Polistico and Jeffrey Graves of Hope. Ronnie Magsanoc, Duane Salvaterra and a 17-year-old rookie Benjie Paras of Converse/Milkland. After a one-round eliminations, Lhuillier were unbeaten with seven straight wins, the Jewelers were joined by RFM-Swift's (tied with ESQ at 4–3) in the semifinals. ESQ Marketing and Hope Cigarettes made it by