[EIGHTH 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
A WALKING mismatch.
Perhaps there was no better term to describe what Danny Seigle was on the hardcourt in his best years in the PBA.
Playing at a time when players standing at 6’6 and above were expected to play in the paint with their backs to the basket, the man fondly called “Dynamite Danny” exploded onto the scene for San Miguel with versatility not usually seen in the league at that time.
Put guys his size on him, and he can just isolate them. He’ll break ‘em down by attacking facing the basket where he’ll either go all the way to the hole for an emphatic finish above the rim, or take a dribble or two before pulling up in the mid-range which almost seemed automatic.
Should these defenders take a step back and brace for his attack off the dribble, he’s a decent enough shooter from downtown to make ‘em pay by giving him space.
It’s not like he can’t play with his back to the basket as well. Put a smaller defender on him, and he can back him down and have his way around his man, making the opposing teams pay – and look foolish for making the gamble.
But it’s not just in the mere eye-test; he got results and accolades to back him up, even though many felt Seigle never really reached his full potential after a ruptured Achilles tendon – a career killer even to this day – derailed what would have been an even more legedary career.
Enough of the ‘what would have beens’. His career that was is more than enough to get him the shine as one of the greatest players to ever play in the league.
An eight-time PBA champion, a four-time PBA Finals MVP (still tied for the most to this day, barring another June Mar Fajardo win), a two-time Best Player of the Conference, a three-time PBA Mythical First Team member, an eight-time All-Star, a Rookie of the Year and a Comeback Player of the Year for good measure are achievements you wouldn’t expect from someone who nearly missed two years because of terrible ankle issues.
Those accolades alone, plus his overall impact on how basketball was played in the country from that era pushing forward should be enough to earn him a spot among the 50 Greatest Players list when the PBA celebrates its 50th anniversary this April.
Then PBA play-by-play commentator Noli Eala put the Danny Seigle experience best in probably one of the most iconic calls during that era:
“Susmaryosep! Ikaw na ang maging Danny Seigle!” Eala gushed on air as the high-flying forward soared for one of his rim-rattling dunks against Purefoods in the 2000 PBA Governors Cup Finals.
In today’s parlance, that was Mr. Eala saying that Danny Seigle ‘is him.’
And yes, Danny Seigle was him, and he deserves to be named one of the 50 greatest players to ever suit up in the league.
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