UAAP Season 71 men's basketball tournament
| Host school | University of the Philippines, Diliman | ||||||||||||
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| Duration | September 21-25, 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Arena(s) | Araneta Coliseum | ||||||||||||
| Finals MVP | Nonoy Baclao | ||||||||||||
| Winning coach | Norman Black | ||||||||||||
| Semifinalists |
 FEU Tamaraws UE Red Warriors
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| TV network(s) | Studio 23 | ||||||||||||
| Qualified for semifinals with twice to beat advantage | |
| Qualified for semifinals |
The UAAP Season 71 men's basketball tournament is the 2008-09 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Basketball Championship, with University of the Philippines, Diliman as the season host, to coincide with the centennial celebrations of the University of the Philippines System.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles swept their archrivals De La Salle Green Archers in two games to clinch their first UAAP title since 2002, and to give head coach Norman Black his first collegiate championship. Ateneo's Rabeh Al-Hussaini was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season, while Nonoy Baclao was named as the Finals MVP. Ryan Buenafe won the Rookie of the Year honors, also for the Ateneo.
Aboy Castro succeeds Joe Lipa as the new head coach of the UP Fighting Maroons, after Lipa led his team to a 0–14 record in Season 70. Castro was an assistant coach of Glenn Capacio for the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, and of Chot Reyes for the Philippines men's basketball national team, the San Miguel Beermen and Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.
Newly crowned World Boxing Council lightweight and super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Washington Wizards player Gilbert Arenas attended the July 6 games featuring host UP against NU and the Ateneo-La Salle game. Pacquiao was given Sports Excellence award by the UAAP Board while Arenas was on town on a promotional tour.
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