APRIL 9, yesterday, traditionally has been a “red-colored” national holiday as we Filipinos commemorate the fall of Bataan to the invading Japanese forces during the World War II hostilities.
In sports, April 9 also is a special date to local basketball fans.
The first game (or playdate) in the hallowed history of Asia’s first professional cage league, the Philippine Basketball Association, was held on April 9, 1975.
Through the last 40 years, the PBA unquestionably has produced numerous heroes and legends in Philippine basketball.
In conjunction with the pro league’s 40th anniversary, this Hoopster, a witness to thousands of games since the PBA’s inception in 1975, has come up with his own list of the 40 greatest players in PBA annals.
Unlike the PBA’s official list, Most Valuable Player awardees are not automatic selections for this battle-scarred hoops junkie. Only homegrown Filipinos or Fil-foreigners with at least eight years of experience qualify for consideration.
I am sure you readers may disagree with some of my selections. Any differences in opinion are highly appreciated.
Bring out the drums and bugles for here is this Hoopster’s 40-player PBA Honors List (in alphabetical order):
1-William (Bogs) Adornado (12 seasons, 1975-87, 586 games, 20.4 ppg, 1975-1976-1981 MVP), 2-Renato (Ato) Agustin (12 seasons, 1989-2001, 569 games, 14.0 ppg, 1992 MVP), 3-Paul (Bong) Alvarez (12 seasons, 1989-2005, 403 games, 16.4 ppg), 4-Marlou Aquino (15 seasons, 1996-2001, 648 games, 12.0 ppg, 1996 Rookie of the Year), 5-Francis Arnaiz (12 seasons, 1975-86, 613 games, 16.8 ppg, 4.8 apg), 6-Nelson (The Bull) Asaytono (17 seasons, 1989-2006, 820 games, 15.0 ppg), 7-Ricardo (Ricky) Brown (8 seasons, 1983-90, 340 games, 23.1 ppg, 7.3 apg, 1983 ROY, 1985 MVP), 8-Allan (The Triggerman) Caidic (13 seasons, 1987-99, 598 games, 19.6 ppg, 1987 ROY, 1990 MVP), 9-Jeffrey Cariaso (15 seasons, 1995-2010, 686 games, 13.0 ppg, 1995 ROY), and 10-Philip Cezar (17 seasons, 1975-91, 918 games, 13.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1980 MVP);
11-Fortunato (Atoy) Co Jr. (14 seasons, 1975-88, 749 games, 17.3 ppg, 1979 MVP), 12-Jerry (Defense Minister) Codiñera (17 seasons, 1988-2005, 871 games, 12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg); 13-Kenneth (Captain Marbel) Duremdes (13 seasons, 1995-2008, 527 games, 13.4 ppg, 1998 MVP), 14-Dennis Espino (16 seasons, 1995-2011, 669 games, 13.2 ppg), 15-Ernesto (Estoy) Estrada (8 seasons, 1975-82, 289 games, 19.6 ppg), 16-Ramon (El Presidente) Fernandez (20 seasons, 1975-94, 1,074 games, 17.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.7 bpg, 1982-1984-1986-1988 MVP), 17-Danilo (Danny) Florencio (8 seasons, 1975-83, 343 games, 16.0 ppg), 18-Alberto (Abet) Guidaben (21 seasons, 1975-95, 1,081 games, 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1983-1987 MVP), 19-Alfredo (Freddie) Hubalde (16 seasons, 1975-90, 793 games, 12.5 ppg, 1977 MVP), and 20-Danilo (Danny) Ildefonso (17th season, 1998-2015, 680 games-plus, 11.2 ppg-plus, 1998 ROY, 2000-2001 MVP);
21-Robert (Sonny) Jaworski (24 seasons, 1975-98, 958 games, 12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1978 MVP), 22-Isabelo (Jojo) Lastimosa (15 seasons, 1988-2002, 789 games, 15.3 ppg, 1988 ROY), 23-Avelino (Samboy) Lim (10 seasons, 1986-97, 335 games, 16.0 ppg), 24-Lim Eng Beng (11 seasons, 1975-86, 416 games, 14.1 ppg), 25-Zandro (Jun) Limpot (14 seasons, 1993-2007, 558 games, 16.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1993 ROY), 26-Ronald (Ronnie) Magsanoc (15 seasons, 1988-2002, 618 games, 12.7 ppg, 5.2 apg), 27-Vergel (Aerial Voyager) Meneses (14 seasons, 1992-2006, 590 games, 16.0 ppg, 1995 MVP), 28-Eric (Major Pain) Menk (15th season, 1999-2012, 2013-15, 463 games-plus, 13.5 ppg-plus, 9.0 rpg-plus, 2005 MVP), 29-Willie (Thriller) Miller (14th year, 2001-15, 626 games-plus, 13.8 ppg-plus, 2002-2007 MVP), and 30-Manuel (Manny) Paner (12 seasons, 1975-86, 473 games, 12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg);
31-Venacio (Benjie) Paras (15 seasons, 1989-2003, 586 games, 17.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 1989-1999 MVP), 32-Alvin (The Captain) Patrimonio (17 seasons, 1988-2005, 857 games, 17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1991-1993-1994-1997 MVP), 33-Danny Seigle (15th season, 1999-2002, 2004-15, 505 games-plus, 16.1 ppg, 1999 ROY), 34-Pauliasi (Asi) Taulava (16th season, 1999-2015, 465 games-plus, 15.7 ppg-plus, 11.7 rpg-plus, 2003 MVP), and 35-Arnulfo (Arnie) Tuadles (14 seasons, 1979-92, 692 games, 13.6 ppg, 1979 ROY); and subsequently the five latest additions from this Hoopster’s 35th Anniversary list five years ago;
36-Mark (The Spark) Caguioa (13th season, 2001-08, 2009-15, 534 games-plus, 16.7 ppg-plus, 2001 ROY, 2012 MVP), 37-Arwind Santos(9th season, 2006-15, 390 games-plus, 14.9 ppg-plus, 9.0 rpg-plus , 2013 MVP), 38-Jimmy (Mighty Mouse) Alapag (11 seasons, 2003-14, 542 games, 12.6 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2003 ROY, 2011 MVP), 39-James Yap (11th season, 2004-15, 542 games-plus, 16.4 ppg-plus, 2006-2010 MVP), and 40-Donaldo (Dondon) Hontiveros (15th season, 2000-15, 609 games-plus, 11.2 ppg-plus).
My other 40th Anniversary choices: all-time greatest player, Ramon Fernandez; all-time greatest coach, Virgilio (Baby) Dalupan; and all-time greatest team, 1983 Crispa (46-16, .742, Triple Crown under coach Tommy Manotoc).
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