By REYNALD MAGALLON
Greatness is set to be immortalized as the league formalizes the induction of the 10 new players to its celebrated list in the PBA 50th Anniversary Gala Night at the Solaire Resort North on Friday, April 11.
The league pillars, legends, officials, and team governors and their biggest stars are set to come together not only to recognize the greatness of the 10 new players to the list but also to celebrate the five decades of excellent basketball entertainment in a night that is expected to be shining in golden glint and glamour.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, along with the Board of Governors, are expected to lead the event that will also feature performances from Maja Salvador and Bamboo.
The highlight of the night, of course, are the 10 new players to the PBA Greatest List, headed by Toyota greats Abe King and Arnie Tuadles.
Joining them are current PBA stars and league MVPs June Mar Fajardo and Scottie Thompson and other stars of the past in the likes of Yoyoy Villamin, Manny Victorino, Nelson Asaytono, Bong Hawkins, Jeffrey Cariaso and Danny Seigle.
The 10 were chosen by the selection committee, which Marcial handpicked to deliberate and decide on who to include to the list. The committee was led by former league commissioner Sonny Barrios as its chairman alongside the members which included PBA legends Ramon Fernandez, Atoy Co, and Allan Caidic and champion coach Dante Silverio.
Also part of the committee are veteran broadcasters and tv panelist Andy Jao and Quinito Henson as well as former and current sports editors Ding Marcelo, Al Mendoza and Nelson Beltran.
This is set to be the culminating event of the league’s golden anniversary celebration which also included the retro game between San Miguel and Meralco at the fabled Rizal Memorial Coliseum last Wednesday, April 9, the league’s exact birth date.
Former PBA players were also invited to the event which was attended by league pioneer and the first-ever player to score more than 20 points in a PBA game, Jaime ‘Jimmy’ Noblezada.
Now 74-year-old, Noblezada, who was part of the league’s very first game between Concepcion Carrier and Mariwasa Noritake, even participated in the ceremonial toss between the Beermen and the Bolts, who were also donning their respective retro jerseys.
