50 PBA’S MOST DECORATED SUPERSTARS

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First of all, the reason for this list is to scope out the players with the most number of recognizable achievements. Now you might ask… how will I rate this? The achievements mentioned here are the awards that they earned during their tenure as a player.

The criterion is as follows: The MVP Award is good for five points. The Mythical Five is good for three points while being part of the Mythical Ten earns one point. One point is also given to those players that won a Best Player of the Conference, Finals MVP, and All-Star MVP while an All-Defensive Team citation earns 0.5 points.

The players that were sighted as part of the 25 Greatest Players list will earn five points. Since the pioneers don’t enjoy many awards back in their day (the annual awards “package” only has the MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Mythical 5 plums), the pioneers automatically gets three points. RP Team members also get two points but the players have to participate in events such as the Olympics and the World Championships.

The Rookie of the Year unfortunately will not matter since this is not like the NBA where the Rookie of the Year then would eventually become a SUPER superstar in the near future (I am sighting Boybits Victoria, Rich Alvarez, Eugene Quilban, Larry Fonacier, Dondon Ampalayo, Willie Pearson, and Andy Seigle).

So for the tens of leaders reading this… (Chris could hate this while Ocho could like this) GAME STARTS NOW!

50 “J-WASH” JAY WASHINGTON
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2)
GLORY: After a dismal rookie season, Washington finally found his worth as the guy that gets the loose balls and convert it to either medium-range shots or explosive dunks. Formerly from TNT, the current SMB player has evolve into an all-around threat.

49 “ALO” AL SOLIS
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2)
GLORY: He started out as a backup at Shell and Purefoods. However, he rose to fame when he led the then-expansion Pop Cola team in points. He proved to be a great scorer outside the 2-point zone… like the usual norms of a typical southern player.

48 “THE SPARK” MARK CAGUIOA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1)
GLORY: Perhaps the most popular Ginebra player of the current generation, its funny how even if he is bar none face of the league, it seems like the awards snub his existence. Will this season break the jinx?

47 “H-BOMB” RUDY HATFIELD
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (2)
GLORY: Triple H, I mean Rudy Hatfield is a small frontliner blessed with quickness and power. He loves to own rebounds and he helped Coke and Ginebra score titles. Had he didn’t go AWOL; Ginebra wouldn’t have a frontline problem (solved during Villanueva’s entry).

46 “THE MIGHTY MOUSE” JIMMY ALAPAG
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), All-Star MVP (1)
GLORY: Asian players fear him while Philippine players idolize his court vision. His presence alone makes his team awesome. Aside from his accurate passing, his scoring accuracy beyond the arc is fabulous!

45 “THE MENACE” DENNIS ESPINO
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), All-Defensive Team (2)
GLORY: Playing out of UST, this wily post-up scorer boasts the fact that he has helped Sta. Lucia in securing two championships. The interior is his realm. While he won’t block shots, his stingy defense and veteran smarts are commendable.

44 “BIG DAWG” DORIAN PENA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (1), All-Defensive Team (1)
GLORY: Yes, this entry seems… unreal. Well, we should all blame the 2000 and 2001 seasons where SMB monopolized the championships. But to his credit, he was a key defender and a sometimes scorer for the SMB five.

43 “THE SULTAN OF SWIPE” BERNIE FABIOSA
GOLD: 25 Best Players of the PBA, 2 Grand Slams
GLORY: Leading five legends (seven if you count Danny Florencio and Lim Eng Beng who briefly played for the Redmanizers) Guidaben, Co, Cezar, Adornado, and Hubalde wouldn’t have their storied career if not for his exemplary playmaking skills. He is a tiresome defender too.

42 “THE SKYWALKER; THE DRAGON” SAMBOY LIM
GOLD: Mythical 10 (2), All-Star MVP (1). 25 Best Players of the PBA, 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: While his career was brief and injury-plagued, Lim’s aerial artistry gave the Beermen something to cheer at during the 90’s. He could slice through a stonewall defense and throw dipsy-doos only him could perceive as shots.

41 “THE ROBOCOP” ALVIN TENG
GOLD: Mythical 10 (4), All-Star MVP (1). All-Defensive Team (6), 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: Known as a enforcer for his hard-nosed defense, he was one of the cogs of San Miguel’s glory days in the late 80’s and early 90’s. He then developed offense when he became the main man of the expansion team Pepsi.

40 “BIG GAME” JAMES YAP
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (1)
GLORY: Predominantly an offensive player, he blossomed as a leader during Purefoods’ battles against Red Bull in mid-2000. He has the ability to disrupt an opponent’s defense because he can hit his shots in any distance.

39 “THE HAWK” BONG HAWKINS
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (2), All-Defensive Team (1). 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: One of the cornerstones of the dominating Alaska squad that got a grand slam in 1996, he was an undersized power forward with a very effective side shot. He is also a capable defender and an excellent clutch performer.

38 “SPIDERMAN” ARWIND SANTOS
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (1), All-Defensive Team (3)
GLORY: The youthful forward from FEU can play all five positions if needed. He is also a two-time MVP runner-up, as in these seasons, he averaged at least one in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

37 “PIONEER” ADRIANO PAPA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (2)
GLORY: Playing for Crispa in the MICAA, he moved on to other squads before hanging his sneakers in 1980. Papa’s claim to fame is being a RP member? Well, unlike the current RP Team version, Papa played for two RP Teams that reached the Olympics.

36 “RARA” OLSEN RACELA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (1)
GLORY: During the late 90’s and the early 2000’s, the former Ateneo guard was voted as the best point guard of his time. He orchestrates well, plays with intensity, could score when needed, and gives his team clutch plays when asked.

35 “MAIN MAN” MANNY VICTORINO
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3)
GLORY: In the early 80’s, the sleepy-eyed Victorino was considered as the Dennis Espino of his generation. He is a post up player that has a credible jumper and could run the floor for a fast break or an unsuspecting block shot.

34 “BICOLANO SUPERMAN” YOYOY VILLAMIN
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), Mythical 10 (3), All-Defensive Team (7)
GLORY: One of the more durable cagers to play in the league, the burly power forward was a force when he played for the Alaska Milkmen. He was bruising his way to the basket and he was thwarting shots. This feat also continued as part of the Pop Cola squad.

33 “THE DRAGON” LIM ENG BENG
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: Known as a super scorer playing for DLSU in the NCAA, Beng was one of those significant PBA stars not playing for either Crispa and Toyota. While he did play for Crispa in the team’s final years, his steady scoring and great playmaking is his main assets.

32 “POINT LAUREATE” RONNIE MAGSANOC
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), Mythical 10 (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: During the 90’s, you are not watching a Shell game when you don’t hear “Magsanoc… THREE POINTS” being shouted by the barker. He is a deadly outside shooter and a great assists guy (usually for Benjie Paras).

31 “DAREDEVIL” DANNY FLORENCIO
GOLD: 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (2)
GLORY: Here is another player who had international experience playing for the Olympics and at the World Championships. Florencio is a proven competitor. He takes emphasis on hustle and he could shoot anywhere possible in the court. He played for Crispa in the MICAA and then became a mainstay of Toyota in the PBA.

30 “SKYSCRAPER” MARLOU AQUINO
GOLD: Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (4)
GLORY: He entered the league with such hype and while he failed to reach people’s expectations, when inspired, he was a force to reckon. Most of his accolades happened during the Ginebra team of the 90’s where they were a constant challenge for Alaska and SMB.

29 “THE DIRECTOR” HECTOR CALMA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: He was the man behind SMB’s dominating grand slam season. At 5’8, he demanded respect inside the hardcourt with his sure orchestration, great ball-handling skills, and crisp passes. He was also a part of the Ron Jacobs-coached Northern Consolidated Squad.

28 “DYNAMITE” DANNY SEIGLE
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (2), Finals MVP (2)
GLORY: One of the most explosive scorers of the league’s history, surely Seigle could have won MVP titles had not for his injuries. His trademark tomahawk and hang-time jumpshot makes him a cut above the rest.

27 “MACHINE GUN” KELLY WILLIAMS
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (1)
GLORY: One of the reasons why Sta. Lucia grew a lot of “devotees”, this thrillseeker loves to do emphatic throwdowns to scintillate the crowd. He is also an all-around player that could play multiple positions and can create for his shots.

26 “MONEY” MANNY PANER
GOLD: Mythical 5 (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (2)
GLORY: He was once dubbed as the “Highest paid athlete in PBA history”, this burly center is a problem for his opponents. He has a set of moves to display down the shaded area and yet he is graceful enough to execute them, therefore getting three-point plays.

25 “THE JET” JEFFREY CARIASO
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (4), 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: As the fourth scoring option at the Alaska grand slam squad, Cariaso moved to Mobiline where he became a leader. A deadshot from all angles, the durable Jet continued his game to Tanduay and Coke before returning to Alaska to prepare for his retirement.

24 “MAJOR PAIN” ERIC MENK
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (1), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (3), Finals MVP (3), All-Defensive Team (1)
GLORY: A direct hire from the powerhouse Tanduay PBL squad, Menk would dominate the league with his relentless assault to make good use of the leather. When he moved to Ginebra, he became more popular and would bag a MVP plum.

23 “HELTERSKELTER” JAYJAY HELTERBRAND
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (2), BPC (2), Finals MVP (1), All-Star MVP (2)
GLORY: He is fast, he can score in streaks, he has great court sense and his passing plays are fun to watch. As one half of the feared Fast and Furious tandem, he has moved out of the shadows of Mark Caguioa by winning a MVP award.

22 “THE BULL” NELSON ASAYTONO
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (4), BPC (2), Finals MVP (2)
GLORY: The chinky-eyed mammoth bulldozed his way by leading Swift to various finishes. Moving to San Miguel, he at one point averaged 30 points a game. In two occasions, his actions resulted to runner up finishes for the MVP award.

21 “THE FOURTH QUARTER MAN” JOJO LASTIMOSA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (3), Finals MVP (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: Jolas started his career as a high-flyer that loves to dunk. When he transferred to Alaska, he developed an outside shot and his jumpers often came in bunches come crunch time. Thus, was the reason why he was called the Fourth Quarter Man!

20 “MR. CLUTCH” FRANCIS ARNAIZ
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (1)
GLORY: At one point he averaged 30 points in one conference, alongside Robert Jaworski, they formed a potent backcourt combo. He hits big shots when it matters and he could slice the defense with his penetration skills.

19 “ATOM BOMB” ATO AGUSTIN
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: Injuries to SMB’s key men was enough for Agustin to break to the talent-heavy SMB lineup. He stroke jumpers with relative ease, and it often breaks a rally or thwarts hopes of an opponent to win the game.

18 “THE ROCK” ASI TAULAVA
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Star MVP (2), All-Defensive Team (2)
GLORY: Part of the Fil-Am influx of the late 90’s, this Fil-Tongan giant is currently the top big man of Philippine Basketball. He can impose in both offensive and defensive ends plus his likeable charisma is adored by all.

17 “THE SHOOTER” FREDDIE HUBALDE
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 2 Grand Slams
GLORY: He is a forward known for his sweet scoring touch. He’s also known to knock medium range bank shots as well as his trademark undergoal stabs. Throughout his stint with Crispa, he helped the team bag 13 crowns.

16 “AERIAL VOYAGER” VERGEL MENESES
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (3), All-Star MVP (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: He is a main event guy blessed with the abilities to contort his body to deliver mind-boggling moves. He is also a great shooter and an awesome passer. He is often tagged as a Samboy Lim play-alike… but more durable.

15 “CAPTAIN MARBEL” KENNETH DUREMDES
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (2), Finals MVP (2), All-Star MVP (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: Now the best person to resemble Meneses’ game is Captain Marbel. Duremdes started out as Meneses’ backup at Sunkist before Kenneth was traded to Alaska. The major difference in their game is that Kenneth was more explosive and more direct with his shots while Vergel was more creative.

14 “THE QUICK BROWN FOX” RICKY BROWN
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (5), Mythical 10 (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: Despite standing under the shade of six feet, Brown was one of the better rebounding guards of his time. The former third round pick of the Houston Rockets was the first “localized” Fil-Am to play in the league. In a time where Fil-Ams were considered as a dominant basketball race, his scoring and defense were applauded by all.

13 “DEFENSE MINISTER” JERRY CODINERA
GOLD: Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (5), BPC (2), Finals MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (9), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: The highest ranking player to not win a MVP plum, alongside Alvin Patrimonio, they form an awesome one-two punch for Purefoods. He loves to snare caroms and deflect shots and impose his presence under the boards. He was also the first person to win the Best Player of the Conference Award.

12 “THE THRILLER” WILLIE MILLER
GOLD: MVP (2), Mythical 5 (3), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (2), Finals MVP (2), All-Star MVP (1), All-Defensive Team (1)
GLORY: The only MBA player to become a draft’s top pick is also the first MBA player to win the MVP award (the second is Helterbrand). At 5’10, he is unfazed at an opponent’s height and would go straight to the basket if his opponent underestimates him. He can also score jumpers and grab rebounds and dish passes when asked.

11 “DEMOLITION MAN; RAISE THE ROOF KID” DANNY ILDEFONSO
GOLD: MVP (2), Mythical 5 (2), Mythical 10 (3), BPC (5), Finals MVP (5), All-Star MVP (1)
GLORY: People would think that Danny I. is insanely high on the list. However, most of his accolades came when the Beermen were lording over the league in the 2000-01 season. Plus, despite Seigle’s should be-MVP seasons, Ildefonso completed what Seigle’s frail body failed to do. And getting 5 straight Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP awards? Come on now!

10 “THE TRIGGERMAN” ALLAN CAIDIC
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (6), Mythical 10 (2), BPC (1), All-Star MVP (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: The Triggerman is perhaps the most feared Filipino since the “PBA” period. While the Caloy Loyzaga-led squad dominated the international ranks, Asian hoopstars know that Caidic has a pretty mean shooting streak when not checked! In the PBA, he is the only local to score 79 points and 17 triples. Leaving him defense-less in the three point area is a mortal sin then.

9 “THE PRIDE OF CAMIGUIN” ABET GUIDABEN
GOLD: MVP (2), Mythical 5 (5), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (1), 2 Grand Slams
GLORY: It was said that he was overshadowed by his more successful teammates in the 70’s. But when the 80’s struck, this Crispa Redmanizer burst into stardom. He played for 8 teams and was twice traded for Ramon Fernandez. While a journeyman late in his career, he had the most number of games, second in most points scored, and had an everlasting mark as one of the best in the league.

8 “THE SCHOLAR” PHILIP CEZAR
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (7), Mythical 10 (1), All-Defensive Team (4), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 2 Grand Slams
GLORY: Cezar could have won more awards had there been more awards in the PBA’s early stages. He is a gifted athlete that has a nose for the ball. He is a strong fan of team play and would rather claim rings than individual accolades. He is dubbed the “Original Tapal King” because of his stingy and unrelenting defense. Last May 15, 1975, his 23 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 blocks made Cezar become the first PBA player to accomplish a triple-double.

7 “TOWER OF POWER” BENJIE PARAS
GOLD: MVP (2), Mythical 5 (5), Mythical 10 (3), BPC (1), Finals MVP (1), All-Star MVP (2), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: He is the only player to win Top Rookie and Top Player honors in the same season. The former UP Maroon was blessed with quickness and power which was poised to make him dominate the paint. He has also a top of the key set shot a la Chris Webber that is mercilessly accurate. While injuries made the middle of his career stagnant, a decade after he won his first MVP, he bested Danny Seigle to repeat as the league’s premier player in 1999.

6 “FLYING A” JOHNNY ABARRIENTOS
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (7), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (2), Finals MVP (2), All-Defensive Team (4), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: The spitfire from FEU impressed a lot with his style that he almost planed to Charlotte to try out for the Hornets. Arguably, the best pointguard to ever play the sport, this diminutive 5’8 point could quarterback the team to victory. He could cream his opponents via his dribble penetrations, step back jumpers, or long toms. In his prime, he topped the league in assists and steals. His career experienced rebirth with the Tigers in the early 2000’s.

5 “THE LIVING LEGEND; THE BIG J” ROBERT JAWORSKI
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (6), Mythical 10 (2), All-Defensive Team (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (2)
GLORY: Perhaps the most popular player to ever grace the sport, this Pied Piper of basketball could make people hate him or adore him. From his glamour boy stint at Toyota to his crowd darling days in Ginebra, the league wouldn’t have experienced this support had not for the Big J’s antics. And as a player, this former playing coach was the first person to score a three-point shot, which he was perfected along with his crisp passes, baseball throws, elbow motions, and animated gameplay.

4 “THE FORTUNE COOKIE” ATOY CO
GOLD: MVP (1), Mythical 5 (9), 25 Best Players of the PBA, 2 Grand Slams
GLORY: Before Allan Caidic, Co was considered as league’s best shooter. Amongst his trademarks are his stop and pop jumper and his turn-around fadeaway shot. Norman Black once uttered that Co would be alone during fast breaks and instead of a lay-up, he would stop and pop a jump shot. No one does it better than F. Co Jr. In his 14 seasons, he was the first person to reach 5,000 and 10,000 points. If there was a three point line in 1975 he would have reached the 1,000-three point mark faster than Allan Caidic and Ronnie Magsanoc.

3 “MR. NICE GUY” BOGS ADORNADO
GOLD: MVP (3), Mythical 5 (7), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (2), 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: The first-ever MVP of the league (and back-to-back MVP of the PBA), the former UST Glowing Goldie has a textbook jump shot that seems unstoppable during the game’s wilting moments. Off-court he is nice, but make no mistake, he is all business once he dons his team uniform. Amongst Crispa’s big names, Bogs was the first legend to leave the team before it disbanded. He captured a MVP plum in 1981 making him the first player to win two MVP titles in two separate teams.

2 “THE CAPTAIN” ALVIN PATRIMONIO
GOLD: MVP (4), Mythical 5 (10), Mythical 10 (1), BPC (3), Finals MVP (1), All-Star MVP (1), 25 Best Players of the PBA
GLORY: He is the second-most popular player after Robert Jaworski. He is a prolific and phenomenal scorer that ranks third in the all-time points list. He plays the power forward position and his version of Hakeem Olajuwon’s “dream shake” is an automatic deuce. He won’t back down in terms of banging bodies in the shaded area. However, during the Fil-Am invasion, he found it hard to play the power forward spot. He forced himself to evolve into a small forward whose three-point shooting has a high accuracy.

1 “EL PRESIDENTE; THE FRANCHISE” RAMON FERNANDEZ
GOLD: MVP (4), Mythical 5 (13), Mythical 10 (3), 25 Best Players of the PBA, RP Olympic/FIBA-World Team Member (1), 1 Grand Slam
GLORY: He is the league’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks and is second all-time in assists and steals. He has won a total of 19 championships, including a grand slam feat as part of the San Miguel Beermen. He is quick, he could dribble, he could rebound, and he could pass the ball as he can play all five positions with relative ease. His signature move is the “elegant shot”, where Don Ramon would use a one-handed running jumper as an offensive weapon. In 1984, playing for Beerhausen, he almost averaged a triple double in that season. He has an uncanny passing ability, a perimeter jump shot, and a different array of offensive moves that looks weird because it was so innovative. Now who’ll say that he doesn’t deserve to be in the top spot?

So this ends the list. Glad to be of service. Now onto the greater things in life such as blogging on Korean dramas with beautiful women or watching Survivor Philippines: Palau (Cris Bolado was defeated by a former man)!

GAME OVER!