PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. PBA Images

MANILA — It is not surprising that the composition of the ten additions that completed the PBA's list of 50 Greatest Players has received plenty of contrasting comments.

Fans online hailed the inclusion of the likes of Nelson Asaytono, Bong Hawkins, Danny Seigle, and Yoyoy Villamin, while there have been polarizing opinions on present players June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson making the cut.

For PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, however, there is no need for him to defend those who made the list.

“‘Di ako kailangang mag depensa. Ito naman ay may selection committee,” Marcial told reporters during the unveiling of the list on Wednesday in Mandaluyong.  

Led by former league commissioner Sonny Barrios, and with the likes of former coach Dante Silverio, former players Mon Fernandez, Atoy Co, and Allan Caidic, and veteran sportscasters and sportswriters Quinito Henson, Andy Jao, Ding Marcelo, Al Mendoza, and Nelson Beltran, the selection committee extensively deliberated on who to include, said Marcial.

“Prosesto ‘to eh. Ginawa natin yung magandang proseso, dinaan natin sa magandang proseso, pero hindi natin mapapasaya ang lahat,” he said, before commenting on how he understands that opinions on the list may be both positive and negative.

“Kaulad ng sinasabi ko, sa James Bond movies, magkakaiba tayo ng pananaw kung sino pa magaling na James Bond, so ganun talaga,” Marcial said.

Meanwhile, Henson explained the reason that the committee decided to include active players Fajardo and Thompson.

“Wala pa kaming pinag-usapan [officially], but the criterion that we used is that when you are an MVP, ‘matic ka na,” he emphasized. “If you’re an MVP, you’re definitely one of the greatest.

“Dito sa ating selection, it doesn’t mean that you have to be retired,” added Henson, before sharing how he, Caidic, and some others have suggested for the PBA Hall of Fame to be reinstated.

“Yung mga retired, it can go to the Hall of Fame. You have to be retired for five years for you to be nominated sa Hall of Fame,” he said.

Some notable members of the HoF are Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Norman Black, Bobby Parks, Ron Jacobs, Billy Ray Bates, and other PBA legendary players, coaches, officials, team owners, and other key figures.

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