40 Greatest Players in PBA History

The 40 Greatest Players in Philippine Basketball Association History is a set of players chosen in 2000 and 2015 to commemorate the founding of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The first set, known as the 25 Greatest Players in Philippine Basketball Association History was awarded when the league celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2000, during its silver anniversary TV special held at the Araneta Coliseum on April 9, 2000.

In 2015, 15 players were added to the list to commemorate the league's 40th anniversary. The awarding was held at the Resorts World Manila on April 8, 2015. The award was rechristened as FAB @ 40 (40th Greatest Players).[1]

Criteria

The following criteria were used by a committee in selecting players for the first 25 players in the list:

  • The player must have played at least four (4) full seasons with the league.
  • The player must be a recipient of a major award (either an MVP or Rookie of the Year awardee or a member of the mythical selection, or all-defensive teams)
  • The player must have done a major impact with the sport and the league.
  • The player must have contributed towards the positive development of basketball in the country.

Players
Italics Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction
* Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame
All-Star Denotes number of All-Star appearances
Year Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction

25 Greatest Players (2000)
Name School Teams played for (years) MVP won All-Star Year Ref
Johnny Abarrientos FEU Alaska (1993–2001)
Pop Cola (2001–2002)
Coca-Cola (2002–2006)
Barangay Ginebra (2006–2009, 2010)
 1 (1996) 7 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
Bogs Adornado* UST Crispa (1975–1979)
U/Tex (1979–1982)
Great Taste (1982–1984)
Shell (1985–1986)
Hills Bros/Alaska (1987)		 3 (1975, 1976, 1981) n/a 2005
Renato Agustin Lyceum San Miguel (1989–1996)
Sunkist/Pop Cola (1996–1997)
Sta Lucia (1999–2000)
Red Bull (2000–2001)		 1 (1992) 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
Francis Arnaiz* Ateneo Toyota (1975–1983)
Gilbey's Gin/Ginebra (1984–1986)		 none n/a 2005
Ricardo Brown* Pepperdine, DLSU Great Taste (1983–1987)
San Miguel (1987–1989)		 1 (1985) n/a 2009
Allan Caidic* UE Great Taste/Presto (1987–1992)
San Miguel (1993–1998)
Barangay Ginebra (1999)		 1 (1990) 8 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998) 2009
Hector Calma* Adamson San Miguel (1986–1994) none 3 (1989, 1990, 1993) 2009
Philip Cezar* JRU Crispa (1975–1984)
Shell (1985–1986)
Great Taste/Presto (1987–1989)
Ginebra(1990–1991)		 1 (1980) 2 (1989, 1990) 2005
Atoy Co* Mapúa Crispa (1975–1984)
Manila Beer (1985–1986)
Great Taste/Presto (1987–1988)		 1 (1979) n/a 2005
Jerry Codiñera UE Purefoods (1988–1999)
Mobiline/Talk 'N Text (1999–2002)
FedEx (2002–2005–06)		 none 11 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999)
Kenneth Duremdes Adamson Sunkist/Pop Cola (1995–1997)
Alaska (1998–2002)
Sta. Lucia (2003–2006–07)
Coca-Cola (2007–08)		 1 (1998) 9 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
Bernie Fabiosa USJ-R Crispa (1975–1984)
Shell (1985–1986)
Presto (1987–1989)
Purefoods (1990)
Diet Sarsi/Swift (1991)		 none n/a
Ramon Fernandez* San Carlos Toyota (1975–1983)
Beer Hausen/Manila Beer (1984–1985)
Tanduay (1986–1987)
Purefoods (1988)
San Miguel (1988–1994)		 4 (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988) 5 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994) 2005
Danny Florencio* UST U/Tex (1975–1976)
7-Up (1977)
Toyota (1977–1982)
Galerie Dominique (1983)		 none n/a 2007
Alberto Guidaben* USJ-R Crispa (1975–1984)
Tanduay (1985)
Manila Beer (1986)
San Miguel (1987–1988)
Purefoods (1988)
Alaska (1989)
Pepsi/7-Up (1990–1993)
Shell (1994–1995)		 2 (1983, 1987) 3 (1992, 1993, 1994) 2007
Freddie Hubalde* Mapúa Crispa (1975–1984)
Tanduay (1985–1987)
Purefoods (1988)
Shell (1988–1989)
Añejo (1990–1991)		 1 (1977) n/a 2011
Robert Jaworski* UE Toyota (1975–1983)
Gilbey's Gin/Añejo/Ginebra (1984–1997)		 1 (1978) 4 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) 2005
Jojo Lastimosa Ateneo, USJ-R Purefoods (1988–1991)
Alaska (1992–2000, 2002–2003)
Pop Cola (2000–2002)		 none 8 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998)
Lim Eng Beng* DLSU Carrier (1975)
U/Tex (1976–1982)
San Miguel (1983)
Crispa (1984)
Shel Azodrin (1985)
Manila Beer (1986)		 none n/a 2013
Samboy Lim* Letran San Miguel (1986–1997) none 5 (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996) 2009
Ronnie Magsanoc* UP Shell (1989–1999)
Sta Lucia (2000–2001)
Purefoods (2002)		 none 7 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) 2013
Vergel Meneses JRU Presto (1992)
Sta. Lucia (1993)
Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola (1994–1999)
Ginebra (1999–2002)
FedEx (2002–2004–05)
Red Bull (2004–05–2005–06)
Talk 'N Text (2006–07)
 1 (1995) 10 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004)
Manny Paner* UV Royal Tru-Orange (1975–1977)
Great Taste (1978–1980)
CDCP (1981)
Royal/San Miguel/Magnolia (1982–1986)		 none n/a 2007
Alvin Patrimonio* Mapúa Purefoods (1988–2004–05) 4 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997) 12 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) 2011
Benjie Paras* UP Shell (1989–2002)
San Miguel (2003)		 2 (1989, 1999) 9 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000) 2013

40 Greatest Players (2015)

The fifteen selected players were added on top of the original 25 players.

Name School Teams played for (years) MVP won All-Star Ref
Danny Ildefonso* NU San Miguel/Petron Blaze (1998–2013)
Meralco (2013–2015)
 2 (2000, 2001) 8 (1999–2001, 2003–2005, 2007, 2009)
Willie Miller* Letran Batang Red Bull (2001–2003)
Talk 'N Text (2004–2006)
Alaska (2006–2010)
Ginebra (2010–2011)
Barako Bull (2011–2012)
GlobalPort (2012–2013)
Barako Bull (2013–2014)
Talk 'N Text (2015)
 2 (2002, 2007) 9 (2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2011)
James Yap UE Purefoods/B-Meg/San Mig Coffee/Star (2004–2016)
Rain or Shine (2016–present)
 2 (2006, 2010) 16 (2004–2019)
Asi Taulava BYU Talk 'N Text (1999–2007)
Coca-Cola Tigers (2007–2010)
Meralco (2010–2012)
Air21 (2013–2014)
NLEX (2014–present)
 1 (2003) 17 (1999, 2001, 2003–2012, 2015–2019)
Eric Menk* Lake Superior State Tanduay (1999–2001)
Barangay Ginebra (2001–2013)
GlobalPort (2013–2014)
Alaska (2014–2016)
 1 (2005) 10 (1999–2000, 2003–2007, 2009–2011)
Kelly Williams Oakland Sta. Lucia Realtors (2006–2010)
Talk 'N Text/TNT (2010–2019)(2021-present)
 1 (2008) 5 (2007–2011)
Jayjay Helterbrand* Kentucky State Barangay Ginebra (2000–2017)
 1 (2009) 6 (2005–2010)
Jimmy Alapag* Cal. State Talk 'N Text (2003–2015)
Meralco (2015–2016)
 1 (2011) 11 (2003–2011, 2014–2015)
Mark Caguioa Glendale CC Barangay Ginebra (2001–2020)
 1 (2012) 13 (2001, 2004–2008, 2011–2013, 2015–2017, 2019)
Arwind Santos FEU Air21 (2006–2009)
San Miguel (2009–2021)
NorthPort (2021–present)
 1 (2013) 11 (2008–2015, 2017-2019)
Jayson Castro PCU Talk 'N Text/TNT (2008–present)
 7 (2013–2019)
Marc Pingris FEU FedEx Express (2004–2005)
Purefoods (2005–2008)
Magnolia/San Miguel (2008–2009)
Purefoods/B-Meg/San Mig Coffee/Star (2009–2019)
 14 (2005–2018)
Kerby Raymundo* Letran Red Bull (2000–2001)
Purefoods/B-Meg (2002–2012)
Barangay Ginebra (2012–2013)
Meralco (2013)
 10 (2001, 2003–2011)
Chito Loyzaga* San Beda YCO-Tanduay (1981)
Toyota (1983)
Great Taste (1984–1985)
Ginebra (1986–1993)
 4 (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993)
Marlou Aquino* Adamson Ginebra/Gordon's Gin/Barangay Ginebra (1996–2000)
Sta. Lucia (2000–2010)
Meralco (2010–2011)
 6 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003)

Criticism

The additional 15 players that were added in 2015 caused criticism because some were still young and active (Williams - 33, Pingris - 34) and still at the peak of their career. Though the selection is valid, some from the 25 original greatest players questioned why some of the retired PBA legends were not included in the list like Nelson Asaytono, Abe King, Yoyoy Villamin, Olsen Racela, and Jeffrey Cariaso. Many have said that such players like Kerby Raymundo, Marlou Aquino, and Marc Pingris should have not been included on the list.

There were also controversial picks such as Chito Loyzaga who played for popular teams like Ginebra San Miguel and were selected over some of the aforementioned players. This is despite the fact that Loyzaga was only a one time member of the Mythical Second Team and played a supporting role to stars such as Robert Jaworski during his tenure with the team. Even Loyzaga himself quoted that he was being pranked when he heard the news of his selection.[2][3]

Grand Slam coaches

Before handing out the awards to the original 25 Greatest Players, the four head coaches that accomplished the elusive Grand Slam up to the 2000 season were also recognized.

^ Denotes coach who is still active
* Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame
*^ Active coach who has been elected to the PBA Hall of Fame
HOF year Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction
Name Team Grandslam year HOF year
Baby Dalupan* Crispa Redmanizers 1976 2005
Tommy Manotoc* Crispa Redmanizers 1983 2011
Norman Black*^ San Miguel Beermen 1989 2007
Tim Cone^ Alaska Milkmen 1996

See also

References
  1. PBA (April 9, 2015). "40 GREATEST FETED AT PBA FAB@40". Philippine Basketball Association. pba.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  2. Nelson Beltran (April 10, 2015). "PBA Great at 40 with 40 'Greatest' but Questions Asked on Missing Big Guns". Philippine Star. philstar.com. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  3. "MAKING A DIFFERENCE: CHITO LOYZAGA IS NAMED TO THE PBA'S 40 GREATEST PLAYERS". pba.inquirer.net.
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