Caidic leads third batch of PBA Hall of Fame inductees

Four of Philippine basketball’s greatest players and one of the most beloved officials in its 35-year history comprised the third batch of honorees to be inducted in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Hall of Fame.

Basketball superstars Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim and Ricky Brown lead the short, seven-man list that make up this year’s Hall of Fame awardees who will be feted on October 9 in a special awards ceremony at the Shangrila hotel in Makati. The late league commissioner Jun Bernadino joins the four retired players in the select roster together with former PBA chairman Carlos “Honeyboy" Palanca of La Tondeña and seven-time best import winner Bobby Parks. PBA chairman Lito Alvarez of Burger King leads the Hall of Fame executive committee which has for members Tony Chua of Barako Bull, Rene Pardo of Purefoods and Atty. Mamerto Mondragon of Rain or Shine. “After more than two months of deliberation, we’re happy to formally announce this year’s batch of inductees in the PBA Hall of Fame," Alvarez said “So far, there are already 22 players and personalities who had been inducted, twelve in 2005 and 10 in 2007. So, nakikita natin na habang tumatagal, pahirap na ng pahirap ang pagpili ng mga honorees, who are all deserving and worthy to be called Hall of Famers." Basketball’s Living Legend Robert Jaworski and four-time PBA MVP Ramon Fernandez headed the initial batch of players named to the elite list, while Abet Guidaben, coach Ron Jacobs and former project director Eduardo “Danding" Cojuangco were among those included in the second batch. The Hall of Fame selection is being done every two years. Chua said plans are being made for the six-foot Brown to come here and personally receive his plaque. Brown, the 1985 PBA MVP, is now a principal at the Ross Middle School in Artesia, California. Alvarez added a set of criteria have been enforced ever since by a selection panel that included commissioner Sonny Barrios, former chairman Joaqui Trillo, Alvarez, Chua, sports editors Ding Marcelo of the Manila Bulletin and Inquirer’s Teddyvic Melendres, veteran sportswriter and Tempo assistant editor Tito Talao and long-time broadcaster Andy Jao, who heads the Hall of Fame’s nomination committee. The honors committee that determined the final seven-man list was headed by former Vintage Enterprise head Bobong Velez. – GMANews.TV