WHY not add excitement and a menace to the star power of the PBA’s Greatest players list?
Alvin Patrimonio and Jerry Codiñera, two members of the elite 50 cagers group, are convinced retired former fellow stars Paul “Bong” Alvarez and Dennis Espino deserve to be included in the next batch of the esteemed field.
“Iba din iyong Bong Alvarez. Maraming naging fans pa ang PBA noong 90s dahil sa kanya,” Patrimonio, a four-time pro league MVP and current Magnolia team manager, said.
For Codiñera, a defensive ace during his heydays, Espino gave opposing big men fits.
“Si Espino, ang lakas noon. Dapat nasa next batch sila ni Bong Alva (Alvarez’s nickname),” the “Defense Minister” added.
Ten new greats were formally enshrined in the pantheon of legends during the PBA 50 Greatest gala night last Friday at the grand ballroom of the Solaire Resort North in Quezon City, bannered by Nelson Asaytono.
Asaytono, a brawny power forward, was joined by Blackwater coach Jeffrey Cariaso, reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, Bong Hawkins, Abe King, Danny Seigle, former MVP Scottie Thompson, the late Arnie Tuadles, Manny Victorino, and Yoyoy Villamin.
Fajardo and Thompson are the only active players in the new list.
With a “Mr. Excitement” moniker befitting his highly-flying acts, the 6-foot Alvarez, 56, suited up in Asia’s pioneering league for 16 years after he was tabbed fourth overall by the defunct Alaska franchise in 1989 until 2005, with other stints in Sta. Lucia, Shell, San Miguel Beer, Ginebra, FedEx, Talk ‘N Text, and Red Bull.
A one-time champion, one-time Mythical First and Second team member, and four-time All-Star, Alvarez scored 71 points in 1990.
The 6-foot-Espino was the Realtors’ top choice in the 1995 Draft where he spent his first 14—and most glorious seasons—before his stint took a different destination starting in 2009 and ending in 2011 with Powerade.
“Dennis the Menace” Espino, 51, had two titles with Sta. Lucia, was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, a finals MVP once, and a Mythical First team member twice while playing in four All-Star tiffs.
Patrimonio and Codiñera played with and against Alvarez and Espino—they have a case in batting for their inclusion in the next set of honorees.
