[Third 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 third 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
THERE are a few reasons cited on why June Mar Fajardo should NOT be included in the list of 10 to be added to the PBA’s 40 Greatest Players.
Or, at least, not yet.
For one, Fajardo is still an active player, and it can be argued that those retired should be considered before the 35-year-old big man. The eight-time PBA MVP, who is well ahead on this list surpassing four-time winners Ramon Fernandez and Alvin Patrimonio, will eventually get there and be on the ‘Greatest’ list.
There could also be an argument that the 11-time PBA Best Player of the Conference winner had little to no worthy challenger since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2012 draft. With Fajardo’s brute strength and 6-foot-10 frame, there is no one until now who can handle him especially when he is in the paint. In short, the competition is totally unfair in his favor.
Those same physical qualities made it hard for teams to score or rebound over Fajardo, resulting in even All-Defensive Team selections, just three short of the record set by ‘The Defense Minister’ Jerry Codinera.
There are also those who argue that Fajardo is ‘lucky’ to be in powerhouse teams surrounded by great teammates his entire career. He has won 10 PBA championships so far, and one could say that he got a lot of help to do so being a part of San Miguel’s Death 5 with Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross, Arwind Santos, and Alex Cabagnot. Yet the four Finals MVP awards he won during those championship runs are proof that he was the cornerstone in each of those winning teams.
So good was Fajardo, in fact, that he also won a Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 by the PBA Press Corps upon his recovery from a broken tibia in 2020. That year, San Miguel didn’t win a championship during the Clark bubble without Fajardo. After winning the comeback award, Fajardo won his seventh MVP in 2023, and his team got back to winning titles again.
There is no question that Fajardo deserves to be on any 'PBA Greatest’ list - be it yesterday, today, or tomorrow.
Any 'PBA Greatest' list will be incomplete without the GOAT.
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