My All Time PBA First Team

    

I grew up literally watching the PBA and though I don’t consider myself an authority, I think I have seen the league long enough to come up with my own all time PBA First Team.  As in any “greatest list”, the names of who are in and those who are not will be highly subjective and anyone has their own opinion.  What matters is to come up with a selection that will be viewed as credible and worthy of discussion among those who understands and loves the league and the game of basketball itself.

In selecting, I did not include those who are still active as their careers are not yet over though it would be very difficult among the present crop of players to dislodge any of them.  So here goes my Mount Rushmore + 1 of PBA greats:

                                                                                        

Point Guard – Johnny “The Flying A” Abbarientos

The league has a rich history of great point guards but Johnny stands head and shoulders above them all.  The guy was destined for greatness and this was observed by many basketball scouts even during his high school days.  Won two UAAP crowns during his college days with FEU and was drafted by Alaska.  He won a grandslam with Alaska in 1996 and winning the MVP in the process.  The Flying A finished his career as the league all time leader in steals, 4^th in assist and 9^th in minutes played.

The league has seen quick and athletic point guards that is at par with Johnny A, but none of them comes near his grace, all around excellence and basketball IQ.  He was so good during his prime that the Charlotte Hornets (present day New Orleans Hornets) seriously considered bringing his act to the NBA.

 

Runner Up : Hector Calma

                                                                               

          

Shooting Guard – Robert “Big J” Jaworski

The most charismatic, polarizing figure not only in the PBA, but perhaps in Philippine sports history. Known by many names – The hands, The  living legend, Sonny, Bobby, Jawo  to name a few, he is without equal in Philippine basketball lore.  But we will delve in his PBA career and perhaps feature more of him in a later article.

Jaworski spearheaded Toyota in the 70’s and early 80’s and battled with Crispa in the most famous rivalry in Philippine Basketball.  He won the MVP in 1978 with dominance, posting a ridiculous 20 ppg, 12 apg and 9 rpg.  His playing skills diminished in the 80’s but still very much at par with the best players of the day.  Statistically he ended his career as the league all time leader in assist,  3^rd in games played, 4^th in steals,  5^th in minutes played, 6^th in rebounds, 7^th in field goals made, 9^th in scoring and 9^th in free throws made.  He was virtually in the top 10 of every statistical category.  For a long period of time, he held the record for most three point shots made in a game until Allan Caidic came along and destroyed every three point statistic.

Known as a fearsome competitor, he was as rough and though as they come, able to absorb hard fouls and dirty tactics and returning the favour exponentially.  Though he no longer had that physical prowess after leaving Toyota, his intensity and desire to win never waned and this was never more evident when he came down early in a game against NCC in 1985 with a busted lip that required at least 7 stitches and returned to lead their lagging team to a dramatic victory.  This cemented his status as a legend in Philippine Basketball which resonates today with the popularity of Barangay Ginebra.

Runner Up: Isabelo “Jojo” Lastimosa

                                          
                                     

           

Small Forward – William “Bogs”Adornado

Before Allan Caidic came along he was regarded as the greatest shooter not only in league history, but also in Philippine Basketball history.  With tremendous grace and calm game in and game out, this UST alum dominated the offense like only few have done before him.  In the first 7 years of the league, he won 3 of them and to think he was sidelined for 2 years within that period because of a broken leg inflicted by Jaworski.  He won championships for three different teams – Crispa, U-tex and Great Taste.

He called it quits after the 1987 season and ended his career as the all time 8^th in career scoring, 6^th in free throws made, 6^th in field goals made.  For  a period of time he held the highest score in a single game with 64 points (shared with Danny Florencio) and most consecutive free throws at 69.  Both records were broken by Allan Caidic.  If there was any weakness in his game, that was his lack of, and inability to improve on his defense.  But with an offense like his, it’s hard not to include his name in this team.

Runner Up:  Allan Caidic

 

                                                                                     

Power Forward – Alvin “The Captain” Patrimonio

This power forward had that rare combination of power and grace.  He can shoot from mid range to three pointers, post up, defend and lead his team to victory and at the same time have that squeaky clean, handsome image that attracted the fans by the horde.  A four time MVP (‘91,’93,’94 and ’97) by the time his career was done, he played solely with the Purefoods franchise, winning six championships.

He ended his PBA career as the third all time leading scorer, 4^th in rebounds, 2^nd in minutes played, 2^nd in free throws made,  4^th in field goals made, 8^th in games played.  He also holds the record for most consecutive games played at 596, making him the ultimate iron man of the league.  This power forward was also known for working hard, getting the job done without resorting to dirty tactics.  He was the perfect face of the league and he played that part very well.

Runner Up: Nelson Asaytono

                                                       

 

         

       Center - Ramon “The Franchise” Fernandez

His choice as center was relatively easy.  Consider his accomplishments – Four time MVP, 19 PBA championships, all time leader in scoring, rebounds, blocked shots, field goals made, free throws made, minutes played and second all time in assists, steals and games played.    He was the most versatile player the league has seen, he could shoot, post up, dribble, pass, play great defense and has a vast array of shots- elegant shot, hook shot.  Though not as athletic as the players of this age, his basketball IQ is off the charts.  There were times, at various stages of a game, he plays all five court positions depending on the situation. One may argue that his play was more of a natural small/power forward but during his day he did play as center because of his size.

He should have actually walked off from the league with 2 more MVP’s- in 1979 and 1989, where he lost both in controversial fashion.  His most dominant season came in 1984 with Beer Hausen, just a season removed from Toyota when it disbanded.  He played 64 games and averaged an astonishing 27.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg and 9.92 apg, in essence a triple double and without a doubt the most dominant season ever by a local PBA player.

Runner Up:  Benjie Paras

There may be players who have superior statistical numbers compared with those in the list but stats are not the only criteria for being in my Mount Rushmore plus one of the PBA.  I also took into consideration their impact and lasting legacy.  Some might even comment and disagree on my runners up but that is most welcome.  It means the PBA and Philippine Basketball itself is alive and healthy in this day of multi channels in cable television.

 

There are present players who will have a legitimate claim to the lofty positions the aforementioned are occupying- names of Ildefonso, Taulava, Miller, Caguioa, Yap and a host of others may someday supplant them but as of the moment, this Fab Five make up my list.