Cariaso, Seigle, Racela, Asaytono, King, Hawkins among final cuts in '40 Greatest PBA Players' screening

Barangay Ginebra coach Jeffrey Cariaso suffered two setbacks. The day after his team's lopsided loss to GlobalPort knocked them out of the PBA Philippine Cup's Magic 4, sources revealed Cariaso was also one of the final cuts for the PBA's '40 Greatest Players' pool.

A source indicated Cariaso was among the final eight players considered for the last five spots on the elite list, joining the members of the '25 Greatest' list and the 10 league MVPs from 2000 onwards. The source explained that the 10 former MVPs since the last induction were automatic selections ("shoo-ins"), leaving only five open spots. Eight top-performing non-MVP players were nominated for those spots, with Cariaso making the final eight but not the final "Magic 5".

The screening committee selected Kerby Raymundo, Marc Pingris, Chito Loyzaga, Jayson Castro, and Marlou Aquino for the five open spots. They join the 10 former MVPs: James Yap, Danny Ildefonso, Asi Taulava, Willie Miller, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, and Arwind Santos. Reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo was excluded because the panel limited honorees to players with at least five seasons in the league.

Aside from Cariaso, the other final cuts for the elite group honored in April were 1999 Rookie of the Year Danny Seigle and 1982 PBA MVP candidate Abe King. Before narrowing to eight candidates, the selection panel (including Robert Jaworski, Freddie Webb, PBA officials, and media members) considered around 14 former PBA superstars. The committee trimmed the list to eight for easier voting, and Raymundo, Loyzaga, Castro, Pingris, and Aquino received multiple votes from the seven committee members. Nelson Asaytono, Olsen Racela, Dennis Espino, and Bong Hawkins were also considered by the panel.

The 15 new nominees (the 10 MVPs and the five additions) will join Jaworski and the other members of the '25 Greatest Players'. The original '25 Greatest' list includes Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, William 'Bogs' Adornado, Johnny Abarrientos, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Ricky Brown, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Philip Cezar, Atoy Co, Jerry Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Freddie Hubalde, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Manny Paner, Alvin Patrimonio, and Benjie Paras.