Magsanoc, Paras among Hall of Fame nominees

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time MVP awardee Benjie Paras and buddy Ronnie Magsanoc led seven other esteemed personalities nominated to compose the fifth batch of honorees to the PBA Hall of Fame.

In a meeting yesterday, the PBA Hall of Fame selection/nomination committee also named former Rookie of the Year awardee Arnie Tuadles, Lim Eng Beng, import Sean Chambers, coach Ed Ocampo, referee Egmidio Cahanding, longtime league board member Elmer Yanga and media man Fred Luarca to the list.

The STAR columnist Joaquin Henson chaired the selection/nomination committee that included PBA officials Rickie Santos and Willie Marcial, PBA Press Corps president Musong Castillo, TV5’s Magsanoc, sports columnist Dennis Principe and Paras, representing PBA players.

Their nominees will go through screening by the honors committee before they eventually make the Hall of Fame. The induction of the next batch of PBA Hall of Fame honorees will be held either in the opening of the next PBA season or in an stand-alone event prior to the opening.

A total of 36 individuals in four previous batches have been enshrined into the Hall of Fame, including 12 during its launch in 2005.

The first batch was composed of Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, Philip Cezar, Bogs Adornado, Francis Arnaiz, Baby Dalupan, Leo Prieto, Emerson Coseteng, Rudy Salud, Danny Floro and Joe Cantada.

Abet Guidaben, Manny Paner, Danny Florencio, Norman Black, Ron Jacobs, Domingo Itchon, Danding Cojuangco, Dante Silverio, Tony Siddayao and Pinggoy Pengson made up the second group enshrined in 2007.