Golden year: PBA 50 greatest sealed

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April 3, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The 10-man Selection Committee, formed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, yesterday announced 10 additions to comprise the 50 Greatest Players ever in connection with the celebration of the pro league’s Golden Anniversary this year.

Named to join 40 players in consolidating the cast of 50 were Nelson Asaytono, Jeff Cariaso, June Mar Fajardo, Rene (Bong) Hawkins, Abe King, Danny Seigle, Scottie Thompson, the late Arnie Tuadles, Elpidio (Yoyoy) Villamin and Manny Victorino.

Former PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios was voted chairman by the Selection Committee whose other members were Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, Allan Caidic, Dante Silverio, Ding Marcelo, Al Mendoza, Nelson Beltran, Andy Jao and Joaquin Henson. The Committee decided on the 10 from a short list of 32 nominees. Criteria for selection were a candidate must have played in at least five seasons, made an impact and contributed to the league with character as an encompassing element. PBA MVPs were automatically included in the cast.

Asaytono, 58, led the league in scoring in 1997 and is a seven-time PBA champion, 10-time All-Star and two-time Best Player of the Conference. Cariaso, 52, was the 1995 Rookie of the Year and is an eight-time PBA champion, 10-time All-Star, Grand Slam champion in 1996, 2003 Finals MVP and 2002 Best Player of the Conference. Fajardo, 35, is an eight-time MVP, 10-time PBA champion, four-time Finals MVP and 11-time Best Player of the Conference. Hawkins, 57, is an eight-time PBA champion, two-time Mythical First Team pick, 1996 Finals MVP and three-time All-Star. King, 67, is a 13-time PBA champion and 1982 Mythical First Team pick.

Seigle, 48, is an eight-time PBA champion, 1999 Rookie of the Year, four-time Finals MVP, eight-time All-Star, two-time Best Player of the Conference and three-time Mythical First Team pick. Thompson, 31, is a seven-time PBA champion, 2021 MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Best Player of the Conference and six-time All-Star. Tuadles died in 1996 at 40 and was a nine-time PBA champion, 1979 Rookie of the Year, 1979 Mythical First Team pick and 1990 Most Outstanding Player awarded by SCOOP. Villamin, 66, is a nine-time PBA champion, three-time All-Star, 1983 Grand Slam champion and 1987 Mythical First Team pick. Victorino, 66, is a six-time PBA champion, five-time All-Star and three-time Mythical First Team pick.

“We are proud of our body of work, knowing we proactively applied the principles of objectivity, thoroughness, professionalism and a high sense of appreciation of what playing skills each player has shown and what impact his playing in the PBA has made,” said Barrios. “These 10 are truly deserving to be among the league’s 50 Greatest.”