PBA 50 Greatest Players: How the new names were chosen

Ten new names were added in the list of the PBA's Greatest Players in time for its 50th anniversary.

The newest members of the Greatest Players list are:

• June Mar Fajardo
• Scottie Thompson
• Abe King
• Nelson Asaytono
• Jeffrey Cariaso
• Bong Hawkins
• Arnie Tuadles
• Danny Seigle
• Manuel Victorino
• Yoyoy Villamin.

How were these players chosen?

Last February 3, the PBA announced the names of the people tasked with evaluating and identifying the next 10 names to be included in the league's 50 Greatest Players. 

Leading the selection committee was its chairman Sonny Barrios, a former commissioner of the PBA, alongside three former Most Valuable Players in Allan Caidic, Atoy Co, and Ramon Fernandez. Some media practitioners and a champion coach were also part of the panel. 

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said the composition of the panel was deliberately dynamic for the purpose of gaining different perspectives.

"Tinanong ko ‘yung mancom (management committee) ko, nagtanong ako sa mga media, nagtanong din ako sa ibang nakakaintindi ng basketball, mga officials ng PBA dati, um-okay sila sa napili natin," Marcial said on Wednesday.

"Kung mapapansin n'yo, iba’t-ibang sector ng basketball: may media, may official, may players, may TV panel, may dating commissioner. Hinalo-halo natin kasi sila ‘yung nakakaalam."

From there, the 10-member panel held their first meeting where they decided to each submit a list of their respective nominees, which according to Barrios contained just eight players each as June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson already earned an automatic spot due to their MVP awards. 

"‘Yung first meeting namin, ang question was ano ba ‘yung task given to us, which is to select 10 more to complete the 50 Greatest in PBA. So nilinawanag muna namin ‘yun among ourselves," Barrios, a non-voting member, added.

"Immediately doon sa sampung ise-select, dalawa agad doon ay nag-MVP so walo na lang talaga ‘yung pagpipilian ng committee. Doon din sa first meeting na ‘yun, agad-agad si MVP Allan Caidic ang nagsabi 'Bakit hindi tayo mag-submit ng kanya-kanyang listahan independent of each other? Gumawa tayo ng walo natin bawat isa sa atin.'"

After three weeks, the panel gathered again to assess and review each of their lists. The deliberation was relatively easy, as over 80 percent of their nominees were similar. 

"You can see immediately the common trend among the nine voting selection members. ‘Yung walong napili nila, more than 80 percent of the total potential 100 percent ang resuulta nitong napili nilang walo," Barrios said. 

READ MORE | Who are the PBA 50 Greatest Players?

—JKC, GMA Integrated News