Golden boys complete: 10 stars round out list of 50 greatest PBA players ever

A long overdue selection and a couple of active stars bannered the 10 additional names elevated into the elite Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 50 Greatest Players list unveiled Wednesday night at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.

Seven-time PBA champion Nelson Asaytono finally received the recognition he deserved after getting the nod from the selection committee chaired by former PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

Snubbed not once but twice in the selection after failing to make the 25 Greatest Players cut back in 2000 and again in the second batch in 2015 that expanded the list to 40, the 58-year-old Asaytono known as “The Bull” during his prime, received a unanimous vote from the 10-man screening panel.

“On why Nelson, he was the common name that came up in the nine members who gave their selections. This means the nine members of the selection committee believe that he’s deserving (of the recognition). There is no doubt he deserves to be on the list,” Barrios said of the rugged, hard-working power forward who won two Best Player of the Conference awards in his 17-year PBA career.

Also elevated into the list were eight-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson – the only two active players in the selection.

“It’s a no-brainer. It will take many years to have another June Mar Fajardo who will win eight MVPs in the PBA,” selection panel member and 1979 MVP Fortunato “Atoy” Co said.

The 6-foot-10 Fajardo has collected 10 PBA titles, 11 Best Player of the Conference awards and four Finals MVPs.

Thompson is the youngest in the batch at age 31, getting an automatic spot after winning the 2021 MVP to go with seven titles with the Kings.

Also taking their place on the list were grand slam champions and Alaska teammates Jeffrey Cariaso and Bong Hawkins.

Cariaso, who is currently calling the shots for Blackwater, won eight PBA titles and was named Best Player of the Conference in the 2002 All-Filipino Conference. Hawkins also bagged eight titles and was the PBA’s Most Improved Player in 1994.

Eight-time champion and two-time Best Player of the Conference Danny Seigle made the cut while legends Abe King, Manny Victorino, Yoyoy Villamin and the late Arnie Tuadles round up the honor list.

The committee, which includes four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez, Dante Silverio, Quinito Henson, Andy Jao, Ding Marcelo, Al Mendoza, and Nelson Beltran, held its initial meeting last 6 February and convened two more times before coming up with the additional names.

The newest members of the honor roll will be formally introduced in a special celebration on 11 April at the Solaire Resort North in Quezon City.