[NINTH OF A SERIES]
PICKING a 'best' list is always a tricky proposition. One's choices do not always conform with what others think. And in a country like ours where basketball is what people eat for breakfast, we expect a vigorus debate as we come out with our list of 10 players who we thought ought to be added to the 40 Greatest PBA Players earlier chosen.
Our list is a selection that we will release, one player at a time, while the PBA itself is trying to form its own list of 10 to be selected by a committee formed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial to complete the 50 Greatest in time for the league's 50th Anniversary celebration next month.
The selection committee is composed of league greats, former commissioners and select mediamen from different outlets.
We assure our readers that our selection is not influenced by what is deliberated closed doors by the committee whose members, including one from SPIN.ph, have vowed not to divulge any part of the discussion or voting procedure.
Here's the eighth installment of our series on 50 Greatest.
1. ARNULFO 'ARNIE' TUADLES
Read Tuadles piece HERE
2. NELSON ASAYTONO
Read Asaytono piece HERE
3. JUNE MAR FAJARDO
Read Fajardo piece HERE
4. RENE 'BONG' HAWKINS
Read Hawkins piece HERE
5. LEWIS ALFRED 'LA' TENORIO
Read Tenorio piece HERE
6. ABRAHAM COLUMBUS 'ABE' KING JR
Read King piece HERE
7. EARL SCOTTIE THOMPSON
Read Thompson piece HERE
8. DANIEL CHARLES 'DANNY' SEIGLE
Read Seigle pice HERE
9. JEFFREY JOAQUIN 'JEFF' CARIASO
JEFF Cariaso may not be a household name compared to his contemporaries, but his resume offers overwhelming proof that deserves a place among the PBA's greatest players.
Drafted No. 6 by Alaska in 1995, Cariaso was part of the early batch of Fil-Ams who entered the league in that decade, and he made such an impact with the Milkmen that he captured the Rookie of the Year, beating the likes of first overall pick Dennis Espino and future teammate and PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes.
Playing alongside Johnny Abarrientos, Jojo Lastimosa, and Bong Hawkins, Cariaso had a key role as a two-way player in Alaska’s 1996 grand slam run, with his two crucial free throws in Game 6 of the All-Filipino Cup Finals against Purefoods capping the Milkmen’s amazing run. He eventually took his first two All-Defensive Team recognitions while with the Fred Uytengsu-owned franchise in 1997 and 1998.
From Alaska, Cariaso was able to spread his wings and blossomed into a top-level scorer and dependable leader over the course of his career.
Cariaso moved to Mobiline via a trade and he flourished as one of the team’s top scorers, landing one of his four Mythical First Team selections in 1999.
Tanduay successfully lured Cariaso out of Mobiline via a trade, determined to make him one of the cornerstones of the franchise. He wound up with back-to-back Mythical First Team awards with two different squads, but still showed his versatility by winning an All-Defensive Team citation in 2000.
READ Cariaso recalls 'wake-up call' that sparked Alaska grand slam
Cariaso was on the move again when Tanduay folded, and ended up at Coca-Cola where he won his first championships after the grand slam era – the 2002 All-Filipino Cup that led to another All-Defensive Team recognition and a first Best Player of the Conference trophy, and the 2003 Reinforced Conference where he picked up the Finals MVP honor.
Both times, he became part of the Mythical First Team.
In all, Cariaso won eight PBA championships, six with Alaska that included the 1995 Governors’ Cup in his first year, and the 2007 and 2010 Fiesta Conference titles during the twilight of his career in his Aces homecoming.
His accomplishments were overshadowed by unforgettable moments in PBA history during his era – Alvin Patrimonio’s fourth and final MVP award in 1997, Benjie Paras’ second MVP in 1999 against a field that included the influx of Fil-Ams in the league, and Danny Ildefonso’s back-to-back MVPs in 2000 and 2001.
But there's no denying that Cariaso was among the very best - regardless of era.
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