Selection body gets ball rolling

Members of the selection committee have set the ball rolling in what could be a lengthy, exhaustive process to determine the 10 additional players to the list of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) greatest.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and deputy commissioner Eric Castro sat down in an initial meeting with the special committee at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City Thursday, laying down the groundwork for the task of completing the PBA 50 Greatest in line with the league’s coming golden anniversary.

Unanimously voted as committee chairman, former commissioner Sonny Barrios presided over the meeting attended by all committee members personally chosen by current PBA chief Willie Marcial.

“I have big trust on the committee that we’ve assembled. We have suggested guidelines but we can disregard this because I know that they know what they need to do,” said Marcial, referring to committee members Barrios, Dante Silverio, Atoy Co, Allan Caidic, Joaquin Henson, Andy Jao, Ding Marcelo, Al Mendoza, Nelson Beltran and Ramon Fernandez.

Fernandez, a four-time Most Valuable Player winner, attended the meeting via zoom.

Marcial foresees at least four meetings to come up with the best possible selection to be added to the previous 40-man list.

“We know we can’t please everybody but we’ll observe a process for us to minimize objections. We’ll be objective rather than subjective,” Barrios said.

Those selected will be unveiled during the league 50th anniversary on 9 April.

It was agreed that nominees must have played at least five years in the PBA and MVPs are automatically qualified.

Nominees must have made a major impact on the league, contributed towards the positive development of basketball in the country and received a major PBA award.