The 1996 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup was the third and last conference of the 1996 PBA season. It started on September 29 and ended on December 17, 1996. The tournament is an Import-laden format, which requires an import or a pure-foreign player for each team.

The following format will be observed for the duration of the conference:

• The teams were divided into 2 groups.

• Teams in a group will play against each other once and against teams in the other group twice; 11 games per team; Teams are then seeded by basis on win–loss records. Ties are broken among point differentials of the tied teams. Standings will be determined in one league table; teams do not qualify by basis of groupings.^[1]
• The top two teams will automatically qualify to the semifinals, while the next four teams will have a crossover quarterfinal round.
• Quarterfinals:
  • QF1: #3 vs. #6, with #3 having the twice-to-beat advantage
  • QF2: #4 vs. #5, with #4 having the twice-to-beat advantage
• Best-of-five semifinals:
  • SF1: QF1 vs. #4
  • SF2: QF2 vs. #3
• Third-place playoff: losers of the semifinals
• Best-of-seven finals: winners of the semifinals

Shell and San Miguel have a twice-to-beat advantage