Why did Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo crack PBA’s 50 Greatest?

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San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo and Barangay Ginebra's Scottie Thompson claim their place among the PBA's 50 Greatest as the only active players on the list

MANILA, Philippines – June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson are the only active PBA players who made the 50 Greatest Players list and they’re there for a reason.

The inclusions of the San Miguel big man and the Barangay Ginebra guard have raised eyebrows from a number of fans who feel their spots should have been given instead to retired players who also deserve the distinction.

Fans argue that it is still early for the two to join the elite club as Thompson and Fajardo are just in their 9th and 12th seasons, respectively.

But the selection committee tasked to choose the 10 new additions in time for the 50th founding anniversary of the league merely followed the tradition of automatically rewarding season MVPs the Greatest Player nod.

Fajardo, 35, earned a record eight MVP awards, winning six straight from 2014 to 2019 then two more in 2023 and 2024, while Thompson, 31, emerged as MVP in 2021.

In fact, six MVPs — Benjie Paras (1989, 1999), Alvin Patrimonio (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997), Ato Agustin (1992), Vergel Meneses (1995), Johnny Abarrientos (1996), Kenneth Duremdes (1998) — who were included to the original 25 Greatest Players in 2000 were still active at the time.

Abarrientos, drafted in 1993, even played until the 2009-10 season.

The same went for MVP winners Danny Ildefonso (2000, 2001), Willie Miller (2002, 2007), Asi Taulava (2003), Erik Menk (2005), James Yap (2006, 2010), Kelly Williams (2008), Jayjay Helterbrand (2009), Mark Caguioa (2012), and Arwind Santos (2013) when they were named to the 15 additions in 2015.

Jimmy Alapag (2011) would have been another one, but he retired a couple of months before the Greatest Players announcement in 2015. Following a change of heart, “The Mighty Mouse” came out of retirement in the same year and saw action until 2016.

Also, there were non-MVPs who were still playing at the time of their selections, namely, Jojo Lastimosa, Jerry Codiñera, Ronnie Magsanoc, Jayson Castro, and Marc Pingris.

Castro, who was only 28 years when he was added to the list, remains an active player.

Fajardo actually secured his first MVP in 2014 and would have been eligible for Greatest Player status in 2015 — only three years since being drafted — but waited a decade for the honor.

Selection committee member and 1990 MVP Allan Caidic said they were fortunate that Fajardo dominated the past decade as a different MVP every year would have limited the chances for other worthy players to be feted.

“For me, he just did not make the cutoff for the 40 Greatest. He should have been there because he got an MVP already,” said Caidic of Fajardo.

Meanwhile, Thompson, apart from being crowned MVP, also bagged two Finals MVP, two Best Player of the Conference, and two Mythical First Team plums on top of the seven championships he won with the Gin Kings — an impressive haul for the youngest of the Greatest Players circle.

“He already got a lot of accolades. Aside from the fact that he was automatically put in because he was an MVP, I think he truly deserves to be one of the 10,” said selection committee member and broadcaster Quinito Henson of Thompson.

Some may disagree, but Fajardo and Thompson are now officially in the company of greats. – Rappler.com