Missing out on PBA’s Top 40

A most intriguing debate that has basketball fans talking in social media and anywhere else where there’s a chance to talk hoops is the recent selection of the 15 new members of the PBA Greatest Players List.

When the league marked its 25th year, it made an honors list of 25 outstanding players of the league’s first quarter century.  The roster included Ramon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Abet Guidaben, William “Bogs” Adornado, Johnny Abarrientos, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricky Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry Codiñera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Freddie Hubalde, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio and Benjie Paras.

To be added to that list to mark the 40th season of the PBA are Chito Loyzaga, Kerby Raymundo, Jason Castro, Marc Pingris and Marlou Aquino along with league MVPs James Yap, Danny Ildefonso, Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Willie Miller, Eric Menk, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa and Arwind Santos.

Not a bad list, right?

But as in most cases when these “Greatest Lists” are made, arguments and disagreements are bound to ensue over who was selected or not. Regardless of the field, making a list that pleases everybody never really happens, whether it’s the Greatest Movies, Sports Teams, Beatles songs or Original Pilipino Music.

“Snubs” is the interesting tag for those not selected. They become the subjects of discussion in different platforms and places.  Many earn fan sympathy, even if at times, the snubbed player doesn’t seem to mind not being honored.

Other “snubs” are more vocal as in the case of Nelson Asaytono who has expressed his disappointment over again being by-passed by a voting process.  Asaytono narrowly lost out to Ato Agustin in the 1992 MVP race.  In a piece in Spin.ph, Snow Badua had Asaytono recounting his being snubbed repeatedly when awards or accolades are being handed out.

Having once been a part of the PBA Hall of Fame selection committee, I’ve seen how difficult the process can be given the wide range of opinions expressed in the discussions.  The final output is never always satisfactory to all PBA publics and is quite simply a best effort selection process given the number of qualified players and the limited slots available.

Asaytono was a fine player and has the statistics and championships to prove it.  Through the years, he may have really fallen short in the subjective criteria like charisma and audience impact.  His era as a professional player is over and he cannot undo or change his story back then.  He will just have to live with the pride of having had an illustrious and colorful career, even if tangible accolades have not come his way.

For now, he will be like Olsen Racela and Jeffrey Cariaso who are my personal choices for inclusion in the list.  Racela and Cariaso were great guards of their generation and had lengthy and productive careers.   My choices are not in the PBA Top 40 list but I sure have a grand time sharing this opinion and listening to others agree or disagree.

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