ALTHOUGH they are still active players, the inclusion of reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and former winner Scottie Thompson of Ginebra into the PBA’s 50 Greatest list was not a surprise for the selection committee.
Former pro league Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios, who served as head of the selection panel, said MVP winners were shoo-ins—the highest individual plum is proof of their worth to be in the new revered group.
“Inadapt ng original selection committee for the first 25 na ‘matic ang MVP,” Barrios said. “Kasi kung iyong playing skills sa PBA, sigurado iyong MVP ninyo ay dapat lamang (na nasa greatest). Iyon ang nangyari.
“Immediately, sa 10 namin na ise-select, dalawa kaagad doon, nag-MVP. Walo na lang talaga ang pagpipilian ng committee,” he added.
Barrios spoke last Wednesday night during the PBA’s announcement of the 10 additional greats in the golden list at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.
Joining Barrios in the search committee were cage legends Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, and Allan Caidic, former five-time champion coach Dante Silverio, broadcasters Quinito Henson and Andy Jao, former Manila Bulletin sports editor Ding Marcelo, former Philippine Daily Inquirer sports editor Al Mendoza, and Nelson Beltran, current sports editor of The Philippine Star.
Barrios insisted that those they picked made a big impact in their stints in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
The latest additions are Nelson Asaytono, current Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso, Fajardo, Bong Hawkins, Abe King, Danny Seigle, Thompson, the late Arnie Tuadles, Manny Victorino, and Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin.
The group held three meetings where they took on the daunting task of picking who is worthy—notwithstanding huge security from the public eye.
“Agad-agad, tatlong meetings kami, iyong first meeting, ang question is, ano ba iyong task given to us? Which is to select 10 more to complete the 50 Greatest in PBA,” Barrios said. “Naging maliwanag muna within ourselves and it was aptly articulated by the most seasoned, if I may use that term, si coach Dante.
“Iyong pinipili natin, iyong nagpakita ng exceptional skills sa PBA playing career nila, among others, iyong may impact sa PBA. In other words, hindi iyong dahil magaling iyong inilaro sa college, dapat sa PBA.”
True-blue PBA fans went bananas in 2015 after some notable names were not included in the 40 Greatest, such as King, Tuadles, Asaytono, and Hawkins.
What will fans say now?
