PBA to complete Top 50 players list

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PHILIPPINE Basketball Association Commissioner Willie Marcial yesterday formed a panel that will select and complete the PBA’s Top 50 Players of All Time as the league gears up for its golden anniversary in April.

Marcial announced on the PBA website that the panel will be composed of Ramon Fernandez, the league’s first four-time MVP; fellow MVP winners Allan Caidic, Atoy Co, former Toyota coach and team manager Dante Silverio and ex-PBA commissioner and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios.

Also named to the selection committee were former sports editors Ding Marcelo and Al Mendoza, Philippine Sportswriters Association president and Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran, and veteran sportscasters Andy Jao and Quinito Henson.

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Marcial said he would endorse the outright inclusion of San Miguel big man and eight-time PBA MVP Junemar Fajardo to the top 50 when the committee meets this Thursday.

“Isa-suggest ko na rin na si June Mar pasok na (50 Greatest Players). Pero depende pa rin ‘yan sa committee. Magpa-facilitate lang naman ‘yung PBA,” he said.

Only 10 more players will be added to the list after the PBA named its top 40 roster during the league’s 40th-anniversary celebration 10 years ago, according to Marcial.

He added that he would suggest that the committee take a thorough look at the players in batches since 1975 so as not to miss possible names deserving to be included in the elite list

Fernandez shared Marcial’s sentiments, especially including just 10 more players to the prestigious roster of the top 50 PBA all-time greats.

“Hindi naman siguro magandang tingnan na may mawawala dun sa earlier top 40, so it is going to be relatively easy adding the top 10 players to this distinguished list,” he said.

Fernandez said he and the rest of the committee members will go through the prospective candidates with a fine-tooth comb, banking heavily on statistics, their league and fan impact as well as their league stay and, of course, PBA championships, among others.

“Only the deserving will be included in this list,” he stressed.

Already in the top 40 are Johnny Abarrientos, William “Bogs” Adornado, Jimmy Alapag, Renato “Ato” Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Marlou Aquino, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Mark Caguioa, Jayson Castro, Philip Cezar, Co, Jerry Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernard Fabiosa, Ramon Fernandez;

Danilo Florencio, Alberto Guidaben, Freddie Hubalde, Jayjay Helterbrand, Danny Ildefonso, Robert Jaworski, Isabelo “Jojo” Lastimosa, Chito Loyzaga, Lim Eng Beng, Avelino “Samboy” Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Eric Menk, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Marc Pingris, Willie Miller, Kerby Raymundo, Asi Taulava, Arwind Santos, Kelly Williams and James Yap.

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