A MEMBER of the selection committee that recently chose the next 10 greatest players of the PBA suggested that a Hall of Fame should also be institutionalized.
Allan Caidic made the proposal during the unveiling of the new members to comprise the 50 greatest players in PBA history earlier this month.
The suggestion seemed timely following debates that have resurfaced as to whether certain players do deserve their place in the 50 greatest list. As of late, the most prominent debate is a take by Joseph Yeo that Ranidel De Ocampo deserves a spot rather than Marc Pingris, who was part of the 40 Greatest Players list in 2015.
READ: Marc Pingris addresses questions on place in PBA Greatest list
“Dapat, ihiwalay natin, meron tayong Hall of Fame award,” said Caidic.
Previously, there was already a Hall of Fame in the PBA, having done five ceremonies in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013.
The members of the PBA Hall of Fame didn’t only include players but also coaches, officials, broadcasters, and mediamen that contributed to growth of the league.
Some of the members of the previous PBA Hall of Fame include players such as Ramon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Atoy Co, and Bogs Adornado, coaches Baby Dalupan and Dante Silverio, former PBA commissioners Leo Prieto, Rudy Salud, and Jun Bernardino, and media practictioners Carlos ‘Bobong’ Velez, Joe Cantada, Pinggoy Pengson, and Tony Siddayao.
Incidentally, Caidic was part of the Hall of Fame and was inducted in 2009 along with his former San Miguel teammates Samboy Lim and Hector Calma.
After 2013, the PBA Hall of Fame was discontinued.
Caidic said that, unlike in the greatest players list, the selection for the Hall of Fame would be wide-ranging.
“Sa tingin ko, ‘yung mga names na namemention, ‘yung mga old players, ‘yung first generation of players, doon unlimited tayo. Palagay ko, ‘yun ‘yung isa na dapat i-remind natin, ‘yung Hall of Fame award, puwedeng ipasok lahat kung gusto natin i-pasok,” said Caidic, the 1990 MVP.
With the separate distinction, hall of famers won’t necessary be the greatest.
“We are talking of the greatest. Talagang selected, the best,” said Caidic.
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