40 GREATEST FETED AT PBA FAB@40
The biggest and the brightest names in the annals of the Philippine Basketball Association gather once again in grand celebration of the league’s 40th anniversary on Wednesday (April 8), starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Resorts World Manila.
Two-time MVP winners Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller and James Yap lead 15 players to be added to the league’s list of greatest players of all time in a historic ceremony highlighting this sporting gala.
One-time MVP awardees Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, and Arwind Santos also make the elite roster along with Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo, Chito Loyzaga, and Marlou Aquino.
Expected to attend the affair are most of the 25 Greatest Players feted during the league’s silver anniversary rites in 2000. These are Robert 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, Vergel Meneses and Manny Paner.
“Forty will never be enough. We’ve had so many great PBA players since 1975,” PBA board chairman Patrick Gregorio has said. “But to celebrate our 40th season, we had to do the difficult task of naming the 40 greatest PBA players – the pillars of the league. Mga idolo ng bawat Pilipino.”
Also to be recognized are sportswriters who covered the PBA in its early years. These are Gus Villanueva, Lito Tacujan, Ding Marcelo, Ernie Gonzales, Jun Engracia and Eddie Alinea.
It will be a night of glitz and glamour with a fashion show also highlighting the league’s anniversary celebration.
Dubbed the PBA FAB@40 under the direction of Manila’s premiere Robby Carmona, the show features PBA hunks walking the ramp in summer, denim, preppy and formal attires.
There will also be the PBA couples segment in the fashion event presented by Smart, Resorts World Manila, Dickies, Blackwater, NLEX, Toby’s Sports, Hungry Juan, R&J Jewelry Class Ring and Metalcraft Inc., and Blackwater.
With performances from Christian Bautista and Julie Ann San Jose, the event also features the launching of the PBA Credit Card, PBA Slam video game, PBA Life Magazine, PBA Silver Accessories and PBA Mobile Phones.
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