I think 15 years ago, I made some sort of vanity project wherein I listed down my 100 Best PBA Careers of All-Time.
I say “careers” because saying the “greatest” has its pros and cons. One “con” is that I value historical stats and try to give bonus points to the pioneers. Also, we have our favorite players, so the “greatest” tag is also going to measure a legend’s fandom. While it’s easy to rate the awesomeness of Robert Jaworski, Alvin Patrimonio, James Yap, Hector Calma, and Samboy Lim on top of this category, it might not be the case for a Ginebra hater, a San Miguel troll, and a Purefoods critic.
Or a U/Tex Wrangler?
I lowkey love their jerseys.
Also, I made this list by researching their stats and making 300 players duke it out. When I first made this list in the mid-2000s in the hoops.blink.ph website, it had the likes of Jun Papa, Ompong Segura, Bal David, Rey Cuenco, Larry Mumar, Marte Saldana, Rudy Kutch, Andy Seigle, Elmer Cabahug, Boybits Victoria, Willie Pearson, Roger Yap, Dondon Ampalayo, Rene Canent, Wynne Arboleda, Mick Pennisi, Noy Castillo, Vince Hizon, Pido Jarencio, Chris Jackson, and Yoyong Martirez. When I made the current version of this list, I considered a couple of names that are still playing like CJ Perez, Ian Sangalang, Jeff Chan, Solomon Mercado, Poy Erram, and Chris Newsome.
Spoiler alert, these guys never made the list.
Unlike my first Best Careers list, I have gotten hold of the career averages of the PBA legends from 1975 up until the present. I know their best seasons and their worst seasons as well. When I created my list back then, I zeroed in on the players I wanted to make the list. With that said, I had LA Tenorio at number 88 then.
LA Tenorio is going to be a lot higher on this list.
If you remember PBFantasy, the PBA-based fantasy game from the mid-2000s, I created a stat equivalent that is somewhat similar to its grading system. Points are 1.25, rebounds are 1.5, assists are 2, steals are 2.5, and blocks are 2.75. I gave points an additional .25 because an okay PBA season average is more or less, seven points per game. Meanwhile, I gave an additional 0.25 points on blocks because except for an elite few, swatting shots in the PBA is an extremely monumental task.
In terms of other categories, I considered the MVP, Mythical Team selection, BPC, Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-Star MVP, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, 40 Greatest Players list, scoring titles, championships, and grand slams. I also gave away phantom Mythical points for the players who were Top 15 in my tabulation from 1975 up until 1983 – or the times the league didn’t have the Mythical Second Team selection.
I also considered the milestones and the games played. I never needed to put extra points other than the phantom pioneer points, but I am going to create a mini-tourney for the top players within a particular range (91 to 100, 81 to 90, etc.) based on the number of individual awards they accumulated. The players with an MVP, BPC, Mythical First Team, Mythical Second Team, and Finals MVP will have an advantage (in that order.) For example, if the number 100 guy and the number 99 guy had two individual awards, the one with the BPC would trump the one with the Finals MVP award (since the BPC covered more conference scope than the Finals MVP.) If there is still a deadlock, then the number of championships they won will come into play.
And oh yeah, I almost forgot. Instead of writing why they are on this list, I am going to write about why they are RANKED THIS LOW on the list. I made this change so the blog wouldn’t get too wordy and you probably know why these legends are in this place in the first place. The most obvious red flags are the pioneer’s curse, injury bugs, low overall stats, limited amounts of awards and championships, journeyman status causing statistical decline, and even off-court antics.
So it’s time to dive headfirst on this list. If you have violent reactions, you can just share it with your friends to say what an utter moron I am. But here’s the thing – this is my list... and you can make yours if you want... and I will respect it.
The game starts now.
90 | ESTOY ESTRADA
1975 – 1982 | PIONEER – ROYAL (SAN MIGUEL)
AVERAGES: 19.7PPG – 4.3RPG – 1.7APG – 0.4SPG – 289 GAMES
MILESTONES: 5600 POINTS – 1200 REBOUNDS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM
3-TIME CHAMPION
Ernesto "Estoy" Estrada holds the third-best scoring average of all time in the PBA, boasting an impressive 19.7 points per game in a career that spanned eight seasons. His most outstanding season in the PBA came during its inaugural season when he earned a spot in the Mythical Five while playing for Royal Tru-Orange. In 126 games for the Orangemen, Estrada averaged 25.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
With that said, Estrada retired in his early 30s due to injuries. While his scoring numbers went up when he played for Presto (Great Taste), it took a dive when he joined the star-studded Toyota squad. Add the fact that during this period, there were fewer awards, and the roles of imports were more prominent. Estrada, Manny Paner, Danny Florencio, Lim Eng Beng, Bernie Fabiosa, and Rudy Kutch are amongst the notables that would have benefited if there was a Mythical Second Team selection back then.
89 | RUDY DISTRITO
1981 – 1995 | ELEVATED – CRISPA
AVERAGES: 11.6PPG – 2.2RPG – 2.9APG – 0.7SPG – 700 GAMES
MILESTONES: 8000 POINTS – 1500 REBOUNDS – 2000 ASSISTS – 500 STEALS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
5-TIME CHAMPION
Many people tend to see Rudy Distrito as primarily a defensive-oriented guard. While there is some truth to that perception, he is more than just a defensive player. His scoring contributions were pivotal when Ginebra managed to overcome a 0-3 deficit to win the 1991 First Conference. During his 5-year stint with the Gins, The Destroyer averaged 13.4 points and 2.8 assists.
Distrito got a Mythical Team selection only once in his career. More than that, his career-threatening foul on Jeffrey Cariaso is a giant stain on his legacy. Because of the incident, Distrito was slowly phased out from the league as he would later resurface with the MBA's San Juan Knights before an unfortunate off-court incident would again draw his name to controversy.
88 | MIKE CORTEZ
2003 – 2019 | 2003 PBA DRAFT – ALASKA – 1ST OVERALL
AVERAGES: 9.3PPG – 3.5RPG – 3.7APG – 1.0SPG – 620 GAMES
MILESTONES: 5700 POINTS – 2100 REBOUNDS – 2200 ASSISTS – 600 STEALS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
3-TIME CHAMPION
Mike Cortez had a journey through eight different teams and experienced the same number of trades during his career. After leaving Alaska, The Cool Cat transformed into the player who sweetened the trade deals.
But while some players would hate the idea of being a trade bait, Cortez for some reason, welcomed the challenge. Whether it was playing alongside LA Tenorio, Billy Mamaril, or Asi Taulava or getting traded in exchange for Tenorio, Mamaril, and Asi, Cortez worked without complaint, and for 14 seasons, he averaged six points and more.
Yes, Cortez certainly deserves a place on this list. However, there was potential for him to achieve even more, especially if only a team would have made him a top player with the same tenure he had with Alaska, which could have led to more individual awards and championships along the way.
87 | DONDON HONTIVEROS
2000 – 2017 | DIRECT HIRE – TANDUAY
AVERAGES: 10.4PPG – 3.5RPG – 1.9APG – 0.7SPG – 738 GAMES
MILESTONES: 7600 POINTS – 2500 REBOUNDS – 1300 ASSISTS – 500 STEALS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
3-TIME CHAMPION
One of the few MBA veterans who can proudly claim to have had a good PBA career, Dondon Hontiveros possesses the ability to score proficiently from all areas of the court. Despite being a scorer, coaches also appreciate him for his exceptional defensive skills. Since joining the league in 2000 up until the 2010-11 PBA season, The Cebuano Hotshot always averaged in double digits.
With that said, Honti missed out on several Mythical Team selections - finishing with just one Second Team, apart from his three championships. He was consistently part of teams with winning seasons, but it never translated to individual awards.
86 | SEAN ANTHONY
2010 – 2023 | 2010 PBA DRAFT – AIR21 – 6TH OVERALL
AVERAGES: 11.2PPG – 6.8RPG – 2.5APG – 1.2SPG – 337 GAMES
MILESTONES: 3700 POINTS – 2200 REBOUNDS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
1-TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
0-TIME CHAMPION
In hindsight, Sean Anthony may not have an ideal career because nearing his retirement, he has yet to play in an all-star game, he has yet to win a championship, and he's pretty much the Jim Jackson of the PBA - playing for nine teams in a span of 12 seasons.
Despite his unfortunate luck, he is still a two-time Mythical Team member and a former Defensive Player of the Year. His ability to impact both ends of the court makes him a valuable trade piece. Hopefully, Sean Anthony can end his career with a championship and even an all-star appearance, for that matter.
85 | CHITO LOYZAGA
1981 – 1993 | DIRECT HIRE – YCO-TANDUAY
AVERAGES: 9.3PPG – 4.4RPG – 2.3APG – 1.0SPG – 566 GAMES
MILESTONES: 5200 POINTS – 2400 REBOUNDS – 1300 ASSISTS – 500 STEALS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
7-TIME CHAMPION
40 GREATEST PLAYERS IN PBA HISTORY
I don't want to ruffle any feathers here but after researching his stats and looking at his awards, I get why most fans are surprised to see Chito Loyzaga's name on the 40 Greatest Players list. Son of basketball great, Carlos Loyzaga, The Dynamite was only named to the Mythical Team once, and he didn't consistently produce double-digit scoring seasons.
With that said, it's worth noting that Chito Loyzaga did earn eight All-Defensive Team selections. Chito Loyzaga's size and skills were vital for creating mismatches on both offense and defense. During his Ginebra run, the headbanded point center (as he was seen back then) could score a mere basket and have a couple of rebounds, but still gets the best player of the game award because of his vice grip defense on the opposing imports.
Again, we are not saying anything bad about Chito Loyzaga's career... it's just his inclusion on the 40 Greatest Players list is kind of questionable.
84 | DORIAN PENA
2001 – 2016 | DIRECT HIRE – SAN MIGUEL
AVERAGES: 6.9PPG – 7.4RPG – 0.7APG – 0.3BPG – 623 GAMES
MILESTONES: 4300 POINTS – 4600 REBOUNDS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2-TIME MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
3-TIME CHAMPION
He has the fruitiest name in all of Philippine basketball. Dorian Pena served as the defensive anchor that propelled San Miguel to numerous championships in the early 2000s. Thanks to his imposing physique, he made things difficult for opponents to either score or defend inside the paint.
Thanks to his Mythical Team selections, it's not odd to see him this high. During San Miguel's championship runs, Pena was often seen getting heavy minutes, especially with the injuries to their 2000s core. While The Big Dawg had a good career, one of his what-ifs was his ability to carry over his offense from the MBA to the PBA.
83 | GABE NORWOOD
2008 – 2023 | 2008 PBA DRAFT – RAIN OR SHINE – 1ST OVERALL
AVERAGES: 8.3PPG – 5.4RPG – 2.7APG – 1.1SPG – 595 GAMES
MILESTONES: 4900 POINTS – 3200 REBOUNDS – 1600 ASSISTS – 600 STEALS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
1-TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
1-TIME ALL-STAR MVP
2-TIME CHAMPION
We live in a time of international Filipino players taking part in prestigious basketball events. If international Pinoy players were a thing during Gabe Norwood's prime, I could see him succeeding in other leagues. After all, it feels as if his FIBA stats are more important than his PBA numbers.
With that said, if there's a person who deserved to move to a PBA team that could have given him more individual and team accolades, it's this guy. While we respect Norwood for his unwavering loyalty to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, he only made one Mythical Team. Norwood also never averaged more than 10 points per game, for 12 consecutive seasons, ever since Yeng Guiao became coach of the squad. And because Rain or Shine is considered a "small-market" team, Norwood only won two championships. In fact, since the 2010-11 PBA season, ROS is the only active franchise to win a title.
82 | DAVONN HARP
2000 – 2005 | ELEVATED – RED BULL
AVERAGES: 13.6PPG – 10.2RPG – 3.8APG – 1.0BPG – 189 GAMES
MILESTONES: 2500 POINTS – 1900 REBOUNDS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
1-TIME BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
1-TIME MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
1-TIME FINALS MVP
1-TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2-TIME CHAMPION
Davonn Harp was among the players who were required to leave the country because they couldn't establish their citizenship. Before his departure, Harp had been performing admirably for Red Bull. Among all the Filipino Americans of his era, I believe that Harp could have had the most enduring career. Even if he lost some of his offensive prowess, his excellent rebounding and shot-blocking skills would have ensured him playing time.
Harp had the opportunity to resume his PBA career once he received clearance but decided against returning after assessing the state of his former team. Because of the Fil-Sham mess, Red Bull could have turned into a dynasty and he could have won an MVP.
81 | CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER
2017 – 2023 | 2017 PBA DRAFT – SAN MIGUEL – 1ST OVERALL (ACQUIRED FROM KIA)
AVERAGES: 14.6PPG – 8.5RPG – 2.6APG – 0.8SPG – 188 GAMES
MILESTONES: 2700 POINTS – 1600 REBOUNDS
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
2-TIME BEST PLAYER OF THE CONFERENCE
2-TIME MYTHICAL FIRST TEAM
1-TIME MYTHICAL SECOND TEAM
1-TIME FINALS MVP
4-TIME CHAMPION
Christian Standhardinger can serve as a good blueprint for international players. Yes, he entered the PBA at the age of 29, but within that timeframe, he has achieved a lot. It's partly due to his good fortune because even though his minutes were limited with San Miguel, he still managed to win titles. Additionally, even though Northport wasn't a championship contender, the team relied heavily on him, allowing him to put up numbers similar to those of imports.
Then, with Ginebra, he successfully combined team championships with individual awards. The only challenge he faces is that he needs to put in double the effort to maintain a top-tier career since he's already 34 as of this writing, with two or three good years left before his talents start to fade.