Allan Caidic
As the Philippine Basketball Association celebrates its 50th anniversary, the league is set to immortalize 10 more basketball legends, adding their names to the iconic list of the 50 Greatest Players in history.
This milestone comes at a time when the league is not just reflecting on its rich legacy, but also recognizing the titans who shaped it.
Commissioner Willie Marcial unveiled a select panel to determine which deserving players will join the already established 40 Greatest Players list.
This panel, tasked with evaluating the nominees, is led by PBA royalty: four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez, alongside fellow MVPs Atoy Co and Allan Caidic.
The panel also includes championship coach Dante Silverio, former PBA commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios, sports journalists Ding Marcelo (Bulletin) and Al Mendoza (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran (who also serves as the president of the Philippine Sportswriters Association), and veteran broadcasters Quinito Henson and Andy Jao.
Together, they will meet on February 6 to discuss and finalize the 10 new honorees who will be added to this legendary list. The league is ensuring that no deserving name gets left behind, with the panel reviewing players in stages, starting from the PBA’s very first season in 1975.
In the midst of the selection process, Marcial also hinted at a potential game-changer for the list: San Miguel Beer’s towering star, June Mar Fajardo.
The big man, who holds the PBA record with eight MVP titles, is a name many believe deserves to be immediately inducted into the 50 Greatest Players, though the final decision will lie with the panel.
