The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is gearing up to select 10 more players who will join the prestigious list of the 50 Greatest Players in history, coinciding with the league’s grand 50th anniversary celebration.
Commissioner Willie Marcial announced the formation of a select panel tasked with scrutinizing the nominees.
The panel will be led by four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez, along with fellow MVP winners Atoy Co and Allan Caidic.
They will be responsible for reviewing the 10 deserving honorees to be added to the 40 Greatest Players already named by the league.
In addition to Fernandez, Co, and Caidic, the selection committee includes champion coach Dante Silverio, former league commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios, former sports editors Ding Marcelo (Bulletin) and Al Mendoza (Philippine Daily Inquirer),
The Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran (who is also the president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association), as well as veteran broadcasters Quinito Henson and Andy Jao.
Fernandez, Co, and Caidic were all part of the original 25 Greatest Players of all time named in 2000.
The panel will meet on February 6, as Marcial indicated, in what will be a series of discussions to finalize the list of the PBA’s Greatest Players.
Marcial mentioned that he, along with some members of the league, will assist in facilitating the nomination and selection process.
The commissioner also revealed that he plans to suggest to the panel that they review players in batches starting from the league’s inception in 1975, ensuring no deserving names are overlooked.
Another point for discussion is the potential outright inclusion of San Miguel Beer big man June Mar Fajardo, who holds the PBA record with eight MVP awards, including six consecutive titles from 2014 to 2019.
“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,” said Marcial.
