IT takes one to know one.
For pro league great Allan Caidic, the selection committee—where he is a member—should painstakingly deliberate before coming up with the additional 10 players in the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players list.
Lahat kami, isa lang ang goal namin,” Caidic said. “To make sure na iyong pipiliin namin, talagang karapat-dapat na makasama sa 50 greatest.
“Malaking pressure in a way dahil siyempre lahat ini-expect may mga kanya-kanyang padrino, may mga kanya-kanyang paborito. But at the end of the day talagang we’ll make sure na ang sampu, with the help of the commissioner, ay talagang aayusin namin,” he added.
Also in the panel chaired by former commissioner Sonny Barrios are Caidic’s fellow legends and members of the 40 Greatest list – Ramon Fernandez and Atoy Co.
Completing the esteemed roster are former five-time champion coach Dante Silverio, broadcasters Quinito Henson and Andy Jao, former sports editor Ding Marcelo and Al Mendoza, and Nelson Beltran, the sports editor of The Philippine Star and president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
True-blue PBA fans went bananas in 2015 after some notable names were not included in the 40 Greatest such as Abe King, the late Arnie Tuadles, Nelson Asaytono, Bong Hawkins, and Olsen Racela.
“You cannot please everyone. Pero one of the things na nabanggit ko doon, kasi hindi naman natin mapagsasama-sama everyone kahit na bet ninyo o bet nino man. May mga kanya-kanya pa rin iyan sa 50,” Caidic said. “Pero I give emphasis, dahil greatest players, kaya I give emphasis sa achievements at statistics para sa akin.
“Kasi sa ngayon iyan ang nakikita ko, personal kong opinion iyan na hindi ko ma-guarantee na ganoon ang gagawin but I will recommend it sa group. Sa 10 na hinahanap natin, ano ang main considerations apart from the accolades? Ito shoo-in, ito hindi, ito ganito.”
Whether the committee makes Asia’s first play-for-play league’s golden anniversary a memorable with the right choices will be known this summer.
“But at the end of the day rest assured na we’ll do our best na maging maayos itong proseso,” Caidic said. “Kaya very careful kami na magbanggit this early ang guidelines.”
