James Yap, Mark Caguioa lead new additions to PBA's Greatest Players list

 

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the PBA named 15 additional players that would complete the list of 40 Greatest Players in history.

 

Philippine basketball superstars James Yap and Mark Caguioa headline the list, which include players who won Most Valuable Player over the past 14 years.

 

Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, Jayjay Helterbrand, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Arwind Santos, and Jimmy Alapag also joined the list. Last year's MVP June Mar Fajardo did not make the list yet, because it requires players to have played at least five seasons in the PBA.

 

To complete the 15, a special selection committee led by Robert Jaworski and Freddie Webb shortlisted five more players.

 

Following deliberations on Monday, Marc Pingris, Jayson Castro, Chito Loyzaga, Kerby Raymundo, and Marlou Aquino were hailed as new members of PBA greats.

 

“Forty will never be enough. We’ve had so many great PBA players since 1975,” said PBA chairman Pato Gregorio. “But to celebrate our 40th season, we had to do the difficult task of naming the 40 greatest PBA players – the pillars of the league. Mga idolo ng bawat Pilipino.”

 

The 15 players will join the 25 named to the greatest list during the silver anniversary of the league in 2000. They include Sonny Jaworski, Jerry Codinera, Alvin Patrimonio, Johnny Abarrientos, Bogs Adornado, Renato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricardo Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Ramon Fernandez, Danny Florencio, Alberto Guidaben, Freddie Hubalde, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, and Benjie Paras.

 

The 40 Greatest Players will be honored in a special ceremony on April 2015 in time for the league's 40th anniversary.

 

“We will pay tribute to these distinguished men – the 40 players who have been instrumental in shaping the PBA into what it is today,” PBA commissioner Chito Salud said. “On that special day, we will also recognize the pioneering beat reporters who covered the league when it started in 1975.” — Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News