BIG men Abe King and Yoyoy Villamin failed to grace the PBA 50 Greatest Players presentation Friday night due to their respective commitments abroad.
Both US-based, the two veterans were the only ones not around for the formal induction of the 10 additional players to the league's 50 Greatest Players list.
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But the rest of them were around to provide a piece of history and nostalgia to the event celebrating the league's golden anniversary.
Those present were Nelson Asaytono, Danny Seigle, Bong Hawkins, Jeffrey Cariaso, Manny Victorino, MVP recipients and active players June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson, and the late Arnie Tuadles, who was represented by his son Rich and brother Calvin, also a former PBA player.
King's award was accepted in his behalf by former teammate Allan Caidic and his coach at Toyota Dante Silverio.
Sources said the former Toyota, Great Taste, and Purefoods player is planning to come home to attend a separate ceremony kicking off the PBA's 50th season in October.
Villamin was represented by his wife Cynthia and son Earl.
Notably absent were other members of the PBA 50 Greatest Players list, beginning with four-time MVP 'El Presidente' Mon Fernandez, three-time MVP William 'Bogs' Adornado, two-time MVP James Yap, and former MVP Vergel Meneses.
Also not around are the 'Fast and Furious' tandem of Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand, Abet Guidaben, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Ricardo Brown, Francis Arnaiz, and his ailing former Toyota teammate Robert Jaworski.
Other no-shows were Chito Loyzaga, Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag, Marc Pingris, Willie Miller, Eric Menk, Jayson Castro, Manny Paner, Marlou Aquino, and the late veterans Lim Eng Beng, and Danny Florencio,
But those who graced the special event and acknowledged during the presentation of the 40 Greatest Players were Johnny Abarrientos, Renato Agustin, Fortunato 'Atoy' Co, Allan Caidic, Kenneth Duremdes, Jerry Codinera, Freddie Hubalde, Jojo Lastimosa, Danny Ildefonso, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio, Kerby Raymundo, Arwind Santos, and Asi Taulava,
The late Avelino 'Samboy' Lim was represented by his daughter, Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Jamie Lim, while Bernie Fabiosa was represented by his son.
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