MANILA – San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings guard Earl Scottie Thompson led the group of 10 new inductees into the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players announced on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-10 Fajardo was a clear choice for this honor, having secured 10 PBA championships, eight Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, four PBA Finals MVP titles, and 11 Best Player of the Conference accolades with the Beermen.
The 6-foot-1 Thompson, on the other hand, is a seven-time PBA champion, all with the Gin Kings, one-time MVP winner in 2021, two-time Finals MVP, and two-time Best Player of the Conference awardee.
Additionally, Nelson Asaytono received his long-awaited induction after being overlooked for the 25 Greatest Players list in 2000 and the 40 Greatest Players list in 2015.
Asaytono played in the league from 1989 to 2006 for Purefoods TJ Hotdogs, Swift, San Miguel Beermen, Pop Cola, and Red Bull. Throughout his career, he secured seven PBA titles and was honored as the Best Player of the Conference twice.
Completing the list of newest inductees are Jeffrey Cariaso, Rene “Bong” Hawkins, Abraham “Abe” King, Daniel Charles “Danny” Siegle, Arnulfo “Arnie” Tuadles, Manuel “Manny” Victorino, and Elpidio “Yoyoy” Villamin.
Cariaso’s PBA journey spanned from 1995 to 2010, playing for the Alaska Aces, Mobiline Phone Pals, Tanduay Rhum Masters, and Coca Cola Tigers. He is an eight-time PBA champion, including a Grand Slam victory in 1996 with the Aces.
Hawkins played in the league from 1991 to 2006 for Presto Tivoli, Sta. Lucia Realtors, Aces, Rhum Masters, and the Tigers. He won eight PBA titles, including the Grand Slam with Alaska in 1996, and received the Most Improved Player award in 1994.
King suited up in the PBA from 1977 to 1994 for teams Toyota, Gold Eagle, Great Taste, and Purefoods. He is a 13-time PBA champion and a member of PBA Mythical First Team in 1982 and Second Team in 1985.
Seigle played for the Beermen, Air21 Express, and TNT Tropang Texters in his PBA career that spanned from 1999 to 2011. He is an eight-time PBA champions, four-time Finals MVP, and two-time Best Player of the Conference winner.
Tuadles was part of Toyota, Great Taste, Ginebra, Alaska, Formula Shell, and Presto in a PBA career that lasted from 1979 to 1992. He was a former PBA Rookie of the Year.
Victorino, a six-time PBA champion, played for Great Taste, Shell, Presto, Pepsi, Ginebra, Purefoods, and Sunkist during his PBA career that spanned from 1981 to 1996.
Villamin, a nine-time PBA champion, suited up for Crispa, Manila Beer, Alaska, Swift, Pepsi, and San Miguel Beer in his PBA career from 1981 to 1998./PN
