# 40 Greatest Players in PBA History

The 40 Greatest Players in Philippine Basketball Association History is a set of players chosen in 2000 and 2015 to commemorate the founding of the Philippine Basketball Association.
The first set, known as the 25 Greatest Players in Philippine Basketball Association History, was awarded when the league celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2000. During its silver anniversary, TV special was held at the Araneta Coliseum on April 9. In 2015, 15 players were added to the list to commemorate the league's 40th anniversary. The awarding was held at the Resorts World Manila on April 8. The award was rechristened as FAB @ 40 (40th Greatest Players).
In 2025, the league is set to add an additional 10 players to the list for the 50th anniversary, with the list to be renamed as the 50 Greatest Players.

## Criteria

The following criteria were used by a committee in selecting players for the first 25 players in the list:
* The player must have played at least four (4) full seasons with the league.
* The player must be a recipient of a major award (either an MVP or Rookie of the Year awardee or a member of the mythical selection, or all-defensive teams)
* The player must have done a major impact with the sport and the league.
* The player must have contributed towards the positive development of basketball in the country.

## Players

| Italics | Italics | Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction | Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction | Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction | Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction | Denotes player who was active in the PBA at the time of induction |
| * | * | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame |
| All-Star | All-Star | Denotes number of All-Star appearances | Denotes number of All-Star appearances | Denotes number of All-Star appearances | Denotes number of All-Star appearances | Denotes number of All-Star appearances |
| Year | Year | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction |

### 25 Greatest Players (2000)

| Name | School | Teams played for (years) | MVP won | All-Star | Year |
| Johnny Abarrientos | FEU | Alaska (1993–2001) Pop Cola (2001–2002) Coca-Cola (2002–2006) Barangay Ginebra (2006–2009, 2010) | 1 (1996) | 7 (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001) | |
| Bogs Adornado* | UST | Crispa (1975–1979) U/Tex (1979–1982) Great Taste (1982–1984) Shell (1985–1986) Hills Bros/Alaska (1987) | 3 (1975, 1976, 1981) | n/a | 2005 |
| Renato Agustin | Lyceum | San Miguel (1989–1996) Sunkist/Pop Cola (1996–1997) Sta Lucia (1999–2000) Red Bull (2000–2001) | 1 (1992) | 6 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) | |
| Francis Arnaiz* | Ateneo | Toyota (1975–1983) Gilbey's Gin/Ginebra (1984–1986) | none | n/a | 2005 |
| Ricardo Brown* | Pepperdine, DLSU | Great Taste (1983–1987) San Miguel (1987–1989) | 1 (1985) | n/a | 2009 |
| Allan Caidic* | UE | Great Taste/Presto (1987–1992) San Miguel (1993–1998) Barangay Ginebra (1999) | 1 (1990) | 8 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998) | 2009 |
| Hector Calma* | Adamson | San Miguel (1986–1994) | none | 3 (1989, 1990, 1993) | 2009 |
| Philip Cezar* | JRU | Crispa (1975–1984) Shell (1985–1986) Great Taste/Presto (1987–1989) Ginebra(1990–1991) | 1 (1980) | 2 (1989, 1990) | 2005 |
| Atoy Co* | Mapúa | Crispa (1975–1984) Manila Beer (1985–1986) Great Taste/Presto (1987–1988) | 1 (1979) | n/a | 2005 |
| Jerry Codiñera | UE | Purefoods (1988–1999) Mobiline/Talk 'N Text (1999–2002) FedEx (2002–2005–06) | none | 11 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) | |
| Kenneth Duremdes | Adamson | Sunkist/Pop Cola (1995–1997) Alaska (1998–2002) Sta. Lucia (2003–2006–07) Coca-Cola (2007–08) | 1 (1998) | 9 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) | |
| Bernie Fabiosa | USJ-R | Crispa (1975–1984) Shell (1985–1986) Presto (1987–1989) Purefoods (1990) Diet Sarsi/Swift (1991) | none | n/a | |
| Ramon Fernandez* | San Carlos | Toyota (1975–1983) Beer Hausen/Manila Beer (1984–1985) Tanduay (1986–1987) Purefoods (1988) San Miguel (1988–1994) | 4 (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988) | 5 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994) | 2005 |
| Danny Florencio* | UST | U/Tex (1975–1976) 7-Up (1977) Toyota (1977–1982) Galerie Dominique (1983) | none | n/a | 2007 |
| Alberto Guidaben* | USJ-R | Crispa (1975–1984) Tanduay (1985) Manila Beer (1986) San Miguel (1987–1988) Purefoods (1988) Alaska (1989) Pepsi/7-Up (1990–1993) Shell (1994–1995) | 2 (1983, 1987) | 3 (1992, 1993, 1994) | 2007 |
| Freddie Hubalde* | Mapúa | Crispa (1975–1984) Tanduay (1985–1987) Purefoods (1988) Shell (1988–1989) Añejo (1990–1991) | 1 (1977) | n/a | 2011 |
| Robert Jaworski* | UE | Toyota (1975–1983) Gilbey's Gin/Añejo/Ginebra (1984–1997) | 1 (1978) | 4 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) | 2005 |
| Jojo Lastimosa | Ateneo, USJ-R | Purefoods (1988–1991) Alaska (1992–2000, 2002–2003) Pop Cola (2000–2002) | none | 8 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998) | |
| Lim Eng Beng* | DLSU | Carrier (1975) U/Tex (1976–1982) San Miguel (1983) Crispa (1984) Shel Azodrin (1985) Manila Beer (1986) | none | n/a | 2013 |
| Samboy Lim* | Letran | San Miguel (1986–1997) | none | 5 (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996) | 2009 |
| Ronnie Magsanoc* | UP | Shell (1989–1999) Sta Lucia (2000–2001) Purefoods (2002) | none | 7 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) | 2013 |
| Vergel Meneses | JRU | Presto (1992) Sta. Lucia (1993) Swift/Sunkist/Pop Cola (1994–1999) Ginebra (1999–2002) FedEx (2002–2004–05) Red Bull (2004–05–2005–06) Talk 'N Text (2006–07) | 1 (1995) | 10 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004) | |
| Manny Paner* | UV | Royal Tru-Orange (1975–1977) Great Taste (1978–1980) CDCP (1981) Royal/San Miguel/Magnolia (1982–1986) | none | n/a | 2007 |
| Alvin Patrimonio* | Mapúa | Purefoods (1988–2004–05) | 4 (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997) | 12 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) | 2011 |
| Benjie Paras* | UP | Shell (1989–2002) San Miguel (2003) | 2 (1989, 1999) | 9 (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000) | 2013 |

### 40 Greatest Players (2015)

The fifteen selected players were added on top of the original 25 players.
| Name | School | Teams played for (years) | MVP won | All-Star |
| Danny Ildefonso* | NU | San Miguel/Petron Blaze (1998–2013) Meralco (2013–2015) | 2 (2000, 2001) | 8 (1999–2001, 2003–2005, 2007, 2009) |
| Willie Miller* | Letran | Batang Red Bull (2001–2003) Talk 'N Text (2004–2006) Alaska (2006–2010) Ginebra (2010–2011) Barako Bull (2011–2012) GlobalPort (2012–2013) Barako Bull (2013–2014) Talk 'N Text (2015) | 2 (2002, 2007) | 9 (2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2011) |
| James Yap | UE | Purefoods/B-Meg/San Mig Coffee/Star (2004–2016) Rain or Shine (2016–present) | 2 (2006, 2010) | 16 (2004–2019) |
| Asi Taulava | BYU | Talk 'N Text (1999–2007) Coca-Cola Tigers (2007–2010) Meralco (2010–2012) Air21 (2013–2014) NLEX (2014–present) | 1 (2003) | 17 (1999, 2001, 2003–2012, 2015–2019) |
| Eric Menk* | Lake Superior State | Tanduay (1999–2001) Barangay Ginebra (2001–2013) GlobalPort (2013–2014) Alaska (2014–2016) | 1 (2005) | 10 (1999–2000, 2003–2007, 2009–2011) |
| Kelly Williams | Oakland | Sta. Lucia Realtors (2006–2010) Talk 'N Text/TNT (2010–2019)(2021-present) | 1 (2008) | 5 (2007–2011) |
| Jayjay Helterbrand* | Kentucky State | Barangay Ginebra (2000–2017) | 1 (2009) | 6 (2005–2010) |
| Jimmy Alapag* | Cal. State | Talk 'N Text (2003–2015) Meralco (2015–2016) | 1 (2011) | 11 (2003–2011, 2014–2015) |
| Mark Caguioa | Glendale CC | Barangay Ginebra (2001–2020) | 1 (2012) | 13 (2001, 2004–2008, 2011–2013, 2015–2017, 2019) |
| Arwind Santos | FEU | Air21 (2006–2009) San Miguel (2009–2021) NorthPort (2021–present) | 1 (2013) | 11 (2008–2015, 2017-2019) |
| Jayson Castro | PCU | Talk 'N Text/TNT (2008–present) | | 7 (2013–2019) |
| Marc Pingris | FEU | FedEx Express (2004–2005) Purefoods (2005–2008) Magnolia/San Miguel (2008–2009) Purefoods/B-Meg/San Mig Coffee/Star (2009–2019) | | 14 (2005–2018) |
| Kerby Raymundo* | Letran | Red Bull (2000–2001) Purefoods/B-Meg (2002–2012) Barangay Ginebra (2012–2013) Meralco (2013) | | 10 (2001, 2003–2011) |
| Chito Loyzaga* | San Beda | YCO-Tanduay (1981) Toyota (1983) Great Taste (1984–1985) Ginebra (1986–1993) | | 4 (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993) |
| Marlou Aquino* | Adamson | Ginebra/Gordon's Gin/Barangay Ginebra (1996–2000) Sta. Lucia (2000–2010) Meralco (2010–2011) | | 6 (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003) |

#### Criticism

The additional 15 players that were added in 2015 caused criticism because some were still young and active (Williams - 33, Pingris - 34) and still at the peak of their career. Though the selection is valid, some from the 25 original greatest players questioned why some of the retired PBA legends were not included in the list like Nelson Asaytono, Abe King, Yoyoy Villamin, Olsen Racela, and Jeffrey Cariaso. Many have said that such players like Kerby Raymundo, Marlou Aquino, and Marc Pingris should have not been included on the list.
There were also controversial picks such as Chito Loyzaga who played for popular teams like Ginebra San Miguel and were selected over some of the aforementioned players. This is despite the fact that Loyzaga was only a one time member of the Mythical Second Team and played a supporting role to stars such as Robert Jaworski during his tenure with the team. Even Loyzaga himself quoted that he was being pranked when he heard the news of his selection.

## Future

On February 3, 2025, league commissioner Willie Marcial announced that a selection panel was formed to select the next ten players to join the Greatest Players list for the league's 50th anniversary that year. The panel includes previous selections Allan Caidic, Atoy Co, and Ramon Fernandez, former coach Dante Silverio, former commissioner Sonny Barrios, former sports editors Ding Marcelo of the Manila Bulletin and Al Mendoza of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Sportswriters Association president and current The Philippine Star sports editor Nelson Beltran, and veteran broadcasters Joaquin Henson and Andy Jao.
Marcial suggested the panel to review any potential nominees in batches by year in order to avoid similar criticism to the 2015 selections. He also suggested for June Mar Fajardo, who won a record eight MVP awards up to that point, to be outright included in the list's second expansion, though he added that it will still depend on the choices of the panel.

## Grand Slam coaches

Before handing out the awards to the original 25 Greatest Players, the four head coaches that accomplished the elusive Grand Slam up to the 2000 season were also recognized.
| ^ | Denotes coach who is still active |
| * | Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame |
| *^ | Active coach who has been elected to the PBA Hall of Fame |
| HOF year | Denotes year of PBA Hall of Fame induction |
| Name | Team | Grandslam year | HOF year |
| Baby Dalupan* | Crispa Redmanizers | 1976 | 2005 |
| Tommy Manotoc* | Crispa Redmanizers | 1983 | 2011 |
| Norman Black*^ | San Miguel Beermen | 1989 | 2007 |
| Tim Cone^ | Alaska Milkmen | 1996 | |