PBA legends headline selection crew for 'Greatest Players' expansion

Eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo could be the headliner of the newest members of the soon-to-become PBA's 50 Greatest Players list. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Three PBA legends who were first inducted to the league's greatest player list and a legendary coach will lead the way in selecting who among the long list of past and even present superstars should be enshrined in the latest expansion of the aforementioned list.

Mon Fernandez, Atoy Co, and Allan Caidic, all former MVPs in their own rights, were all tapped by the league to be part of a selection panel that would choose 10 more legends that will become the newest members of the PBA Greatest Players list.

Legendary head coach Dante Silverio, the architect of the early Toyota domination in the PBA that saw the team engaging in a fierce rivalry with fellow title contender Crispa during the league's first nine seasons, will also join the selection committee.

Former PBA commissioner and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios also joins the panel, while Philippine Sportswriters Association president Nelson Beltran, fellow sportswriting veterans Ding Marcelo and Al Mendoza, and commentators Quinito Henson and Andy Jao will represent the sports media in the committee.

According to current PBA chief Willie Marcial, the selection panel will first convene on Thursday while a few more meetings will take place to finally make a decision on who should be added to the list.

Those who were named to the original 25 Greatest Players list in 2000, which include Fernandez, Co, and Caidic, and the 15 players added on in 2015 will remain part of the now 50 Greatest Players list, leaving only 10 slots open for new additions.

Arguably the biggest fan clamor right now is to include 90s superstar Nelson Asaytono in the Greatest Players list.

Asaytono, the PBA's fifth highest scorer ever, is the highest ranked player in the league's all-time scoring list that has yet to be included in the greatest player list.

The snub was the main highlight of the questions raised during the 2015 expansion that saw the likes of Kerby Raymundo getting the nod instead.

According to the PBA rules, those who won a season MVP award is very likely to get a nomination to the Greatest Players list.

From 2014-2024, only two players, June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson, won the season MVP with the San Miguel big man doing so a record eight times, leaving at least eight spots open to non-winners.

According to Marcial, who will be among some PBA officials who will serve as facilitators in the selection process, he will lobby the inclusion of Fajardo in the new Greatest Players expansion.

"Isa-suggest ko na rin na si June Mar pasok na. Pero depende pa rin yan sa committee. Magpa-facilitate lang naman yung PBA," said Marcial.

The newest members of the PBA Greatest Players list will be revealed just in time for the league's 50th anniversary on April 9.

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