Nelson Asaytono
An offensive machine, Asaytono came really super close to winning the award in 1992 but lost to Ato Agustin. After the 1992 season, he still played some more good years (for the RFM franchise) but played with Vergel Meneses (1995 MVP winner), thus, he was never that close again. Then, he played for San Miguel. He was again in contention for the award in 1997 but Alvin Patrimonio won his record-tying fourth MVP (Alvin really broke a lot of hearts, PBA players’ hearts that is). Think about this, Nelson was the BPC of the All-Filipino Conference in 1997 and 1998. Basically, he was one of the best local players in the land at that time.
Jerry Codinera
Speaking of Alvin, 1994 was the year the Defense Minister could have gotten the award. He was the recipient (and the first ever) of the BPC award in 1994. But ultimately, the award went again to Patrimonio. Jerry was like a Scottie Pippen (to a Michael Jordan); he was MVP-caliber but happened to play the same time and alongside one of the best players of his era (Patrimonio).
Jojo Lastimosa
You know Jolas was a great player because many hated him during his heydays. Being a Ginebra fan, I for one hated him – 1998 up to the last juice of that Alaska 90’s core. (Ok, some uber-dangerous fouls he committed against Samboy Lim added to the fire). But then again, I so love him now! Jolas was the key player of Alaska in the early 90s but it was in the mid-90s when the core peaked. That’s when he got close to winning the MVP award. In 1996, the year when Alaska scored a grand slam, there was a race among mates Johnny Abarrientos, Bong Hawkins and Jolas, plus Alvin and Marlou Aquino too. The award eventually went to the Flying A. But then again (“but then again” – Jolas’ fave line), his teammates and his fans (and I) look at him as a player worthy of the MVP trophy.
Marlou Aquino
Imagine if he played his peak years (easily a five-year window) for Robert Jaworski. A committed and dedicated Aquino is an all-time great type of a player. Sadly, politics took Jawo away and Marlou only played three years for Jaworski. Later, his passion for the game decreased and so was his play. He smelled the MVP trophy in his rookie year in 1996 but the award went to a deserving Abarrientos. He settled for the 1996 ROY award, some championships and then later, 1,250 scoop shots. He is still somewhat active now.
Samboy Lim
Definitely MVP-caliber. If you know your history, the Skywalker was often injured, failed to log the games, minutes and stats. Thus, he was not even that really close to getting one. But in my book, he is on the minimum, twice an MVP. Am I crazy for saying that? Not really. Willie Miller is a two-time MVP.
Jun Limpot
He was projected to be the next Alvin Patrimonio (he did score a multi-million peso deal like Alvin). Sadly, he did not live up to the, um, billing. In fact, he got his first ring not as the lead player but as a support player. Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with that, but when you’re tagged as the next Alvin, you should have at least won one MVP award and one championship as the, um, “The Main Man.” But he didn’t win an MVP plum.
Danny Seigle
Like Samboy Lim, he’s another SMB player who to me, somehow feels like a two-time MVP. In 1999, his rookie year, he is my MVP (mentioned this here,) For the record, Seigle won 1999 Governors’ Cup Best Player of the Conference plus two championships and two finals MVP honors in 1999 – a dynamite year worthy of MVP citation. But the sentimental votes went to Benjie Paras. A year later, Seigle continued his tear, playing superb basketball in 2000. He led SMB to two championships and in 2001, helped the team capture one title and two runner-up trophies. Along the way, he earned multiple Finals MVP trophies. But again, pure Pinoy player Danny Ildefonso snared back-to-back MVPs in 2000 and 2001. In that three-year span, he could have won at least two with some more rational thinking of the voters.
Mark Caguioa
He had several chances to win the award, including this season, but the award has been so elusive for “The Spark.” The media votes is really killing Caguioa’s MVP candidacy, then and now. The media vote is the swinger, the decider that I’d like to define the MVP as “Media’s Valuable Player.” There is really nothing wrong with the media deciding the winner, but they should be reasonable with their votes. The MVP is not an award given to the friendliest but to the most valuable for that season. The MVP race is not BB. Pilipinas. Take a look at Mark’s resume and it’s ridiculous: he only has one BPC award! This guy is good for at least four or five BPCs. And as for stats and impact, he’s at least a double MVP winner for me.