Next is PBA Hall of Fame

Now that the cast of the 50 Greatest PBA players has been finalized, the pro league may consider the enshrinement of new additions to the PBA Hall of Fame that has been quiet since 2013 after five inductions. It would be perfect timing for the PBA to revive the Hall of Fame during the Golden Anniversary celebrations this year.

In October, the PBA intends to invite every player who saw action in at least one game to a grand reunion, possibly at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. At the moment, the PBA directory lists 1,208 players, 35 of whom have passed so more than 1,000 will be invited to the homecoming.

Choosing the Greatest is different from choosing the Hall of Famers. With the Greatest, active players with at least five years of tenure are eligible and MVPs are automatically seeded. With the Hall of Famers, they could be players, officials, trainers, broadcasters, journalists and anyone involved in contributing to the league’s development. Players, however, must have been retired for at least five years. Only locals are considered for the Greatest but for the Hall of Fame, imports may be included.

It’s never an easy task to pick the Greatest and the Hall of Famers. Each fan has an opinion and you’ll never be able to please everyone. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial often uses an analogy of James Bond movies to explain the diversity of viewpoints. “Marami sa atin ang idol si James Bond pero tanong niyo kung ano ang favorite James Bond movie nila, iba-iba ang sagot,” he said. “Mayroon diyan ‘From Russia With Love,’ yung iba ‘Goldfinger’ kaya mahirap na the same ang pananaw yet ang idol nilang lahat si James Bond.”

So far, there have been 40 Hall of Fame inductees. The first batch was introduced in 2005 with players Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Bogs Adornado and Francis Arnaiz, coach Baby Dalupan, commissioner Leo Prieto, founding PBA president Emerson Coseteng, commissioner Rudy Salud, Crispa manager Danny Floro and broadcaster Joe Cantada. In 2007, the 10 inductees were players Abet Guidaben, Danny Florencio and Norman Black, coach Ron Jacobs, PBA president Doming Itchon, San Miguel Beer team owner Ambassador Danding Cojuangco, Toyota coach Dante Silverio, sportswriter Tony Siddayao and broadcaster Pinggoy Pengson. The 2009 group was made up of players Bobby Parks, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Hector Calma and Ricardo Brown, commissioner Jun Bernardino and PBA president Honeyboy Palanca.

In 2011, the inductees were players Alvin Patrimonio, Billy Ray Bates and Freddie Hubalde, coach Tommy Manotoc, coach Tito Eduque, commissioner Col. Mariano Yenko and Vintage CEO Bobong Velez. The 2013 class was composed of players Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Lim Eng Beng and coach Ed Ocampo. Four of the five inductions were held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Makati Shangri-La Hotel the only exception in 2009. After 12 years, the PBA Hall of Fame door is ready for reopening.