PBA body to screen Hall of Fame nominees

MANILA, Philippines - The PBA has convened its Honors Committee for the selection of the next batch of inductees to the PBA Hall of Fame, and it is now in the process of thorough evaluation and review of the candidates and their achievements.

The verdict may come down the earliest by Friday, the deadline given the members of the Honors Committee to submit their votes.

Nominated by the Selection Committee are two-time MVP winner Benjie Paras, Shell teammates Ronnie Magsanoc and Arnie Tuadles, pioneer PBA player Lim Eng Beng, coach Ed Ocampo, ex-Alaska resident import Sean Chambers, longtime league official Elmer Yanga, referee Igmidio Cahanding and media man Fred Luarca.

Now going through their nominations are members of the Honors Committee that include PBA commissioner Chito Salud, PBA Board chair Robert Non, immediate past chair Mert Mondragon, incoming chair Ramon Segismundo and media people Bobby Barreiro, Ding Marcelo, Joe Antonio and Lorenzo Lomibao Jr.

At least five votes from the eight-man Honors Committee are needed by the nominees to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The fifth PBA Hall of Fame ceremony will be held during the opening of the 2014 PBA season or in a separate event prior to the opening.

Thirty-six esteemed individuals have been previously inducted into the Hall of Fame, led by initial honorees Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Bogs Adornado, Francis Arnaiz, Baby Dalupan, Leo Prieto, Emerson Coseteng, Rudy Salud, Danny Floro and Joe Cantada.

Two years after the 2005 launch, Abet Guidaben, Manny Paner, Danny Florencio, Norman Black, Ron Jacobs, Domingo Itchon, Danding Cojuangco, Dante Silverio, Tony Siddayao and Pinggoy Pengson made the next batch inducted into the “Hall.”

Then came the group of Bobby Parks, Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Hector Calma, Ricky Brown, Honeyboy Palanca and Jun Bernardino in 2009 and the batch of Alvin Patrimonio, Billy Ray Bates, Freddie Hubalde, Tommy Manotoc, Tito Eduque, Mariano Yenko and Bobong Velez in 2011.

Paras is easily the top choice to lead the next batch of inductees with his fabled career started by his record Rookie of the Year/MVP citation in 1989.

PBA officials Rickie Santos and Willie Marcial, sports columnists Joaquin Henson and Dennis Principe, PBA Press Corps president Musong Castillo, TV5’s Magsanoc and Paras, representing the players’ group, composed the Selection Committee naming the nine candidates.