PBA names rest of 40 greatest: Aces to step up drive vs Kings

MANILA, Philippines - Alaska Milk presses its bid for an outright semifinal entry while Barangay Ginebra hopes to check its skid and stay in the fight for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals as the Aces and the Gin Kings face off tonight in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Barako Bull and NLEX dispute solo eighth place as they clash in an equally crucial match entering the final week of the one-round-robin elimination phase of the league’s season-opening conference.

The Energy and the Road Warriors collide at 4:15 p.m. then the Aces and the Gin Kings mix it up in the 7 p.m. main dish of an explosive twinbill.

The Road Warriors will complete the playoffs cast if they beat the Energy. But a win by Barako Bull will keep Kia Motors in the fight for the last quarters slot.

Meanwhile, Two-time MVP awardees James Yap, Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller lead the 15 players to be added to the previous list of 25 PBA greatest players as the local pro league celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.

The other MVP winners from year 2000, except for three-year pro Junmar Fajardo, made the elite roster selected by the PBA special nomination committee, led by Robert Jaworski and Freddie Webb.

Yap, Ildefonso, Miller, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa and Arwind Santos are joined by Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Chito Loyzaga and Marlou Aquino.

The nomination committee, also made up of PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, vice chairman Robert Non, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga and mediamen Joaquin Henson and Barry Pascua, took some two hours to finish the process of choosing the honorees.

In a blue-ribbon affair next year, these 15 players will be honored with the previous PBA greats honored during the league’s silver anniversary in 2000.

The initial batch of league greats are Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Bogs Adornado, Abet Guidaben, Benjie Paras, Atoy Co, Freddie Hubalde, Philip Cezar, Ricky Brown, Johnny Abarrientos, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Jerry Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, and Manny Paner.

Honorees must have played five full seasons in the league, thus, Fajardo failed to make the nomination process yet.

Honorees must also be a recipient of a major award and must have done an impact with the sport and the league.

From among the non-MVP winners, Castro, Pingris, Raymundo and Loyzaga emerged the top vote getters.

Aquino, a champion player with Ginebra and Sta. Lucia and many-time national player, beat out Seigle for the last slot.

Among the big names missing the 25 greatest and the 40 greatest lists are Nelson Asaytono, Yoyoy Villamin, Abe King, Manny Victorino and Bong Hawkins.