That feeling exists where those who selected the newest group of players added carry a certain weight.
PBA’s Greatest list
got it right.
Out of the 10 new members added to the prestigious group which now has 50 individuals, just two are still actively playing.
Some commotion arose over the inclusion of
Scottie Thompson
, the 2021 PBA MVP for a good reason. Similar to past inductions, some believe that current players should wait for future considerations.
Upcoming entries are supplementary, not remakes. Legends should have their time in the limelight before it dimishes.
In mathematical terms, that argument holds valid.
Ultimately, since the Greatest list is a limited collection, including a player whose career is ongoing means you’re not just taking a place from a worthy veteran; you’re also gambling on an athlete who could potentially falter in the future. This concept is referred to as opportunity cost in set theory.
Thompson has already addressed the criticism regarding his inclusion—with grace, indeed.
“I truly respect everyone’s thoughts and comments because this is a free world,” he said. “I totally respect whatever they say. Those are their opinions, I have my own, they have their own, but it’s all about respect.”
The following set of players is anticipated to be announced during the PBA’s 60th anniversary in 2035. Maybe the selection panel might create a distinctive team featuring individuals whose careers have concluded, ensuring that not even one legendary player gets overlooked.
There are two valid arguments backing this up.
Firstly, every time an esteemed individual is not honored among legends, their opportunity to claim that valuable position diminishes; the light cast by history and remembrance has limits and may eventually dim.
Secondly, and more crucially, a promising player who has yet to reach their full potential will inevitably get their opportunity down the line. It’s essential to understand that future rankings serve as supplements rather than resets. Thus, even though there might be limits on inclusion at present, these players can expect nearly certain recognition once they demonstrate sufficient skill and achievement.
(Mathematically speaking: Let O represent the group of top players in year Y, and let A denote the set of active players. If O at 60% equals O at 50% plus new additions, and provided that A can consist of those included between O at 60% and O at 50%, then active players will have an opportunity to rise without pushing out earlier legendary figures—from what I understand this might be how the calculation works.)
Exactly, both from an intuitive standpoint and mathematically speaking, it’s logical to postpone adding active players into the lineup.
Unless, naturally, you possess a player such as June Mar Fajardo, who boasts eight MVP awards under his belt—and seems destined for a ninth—despite being well into his 30s.
This recent group—including the smallest number of currently active players listed, whether counted individually or as a percentage—ought to establish a precedent for upcoming members joining the elite roster. The inclusion of well-debated names such as Nelson Asaytono, Bong Hawkins, Abe King, and Arnie Tuadles—who have been advocated for in prior listings—only adds to the appropriateness of these ten new selections.
Maybe by the time the list reaches the PBA 60 Greatest, there won’t be a need to wait so long to rectify things for those overlooked in favor of players whose careers are still developing.
Francis T. J. Ochoa serves as the sports editor for the Philippine Daily Career.