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INAMIN ng dating PBA legend na si Joaquin “Chito” Loyzaga na nagulat siya nang isinali ang kanyang pangalan sa listahan ng 40 Greatest Players ng liga bilang pagdiriwang ng ika-40 na taong anibersaryo.
Bukod kay Loyzaga, isinama rin sa listahan ng PBA sina James Yap, Danny Ildefonso, Willie Miller, Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, Kelly Williams, Jayjay Helterbrand, Jimmy Alapag, Mark Caguioa, Arwind Santos, Jayson Castro, Marc Pingris, Kerby Raymundo at Marlou Aquino.
Ang listahang iyon ay inilabas ng selection committee ng PBA na binubuo nina Robert Jaworski, Freddie Webb, PBA chairman Patrick Gregorio, vice chairman Robert Non, dating PBA team manager Joaqui Trillo, Congressman Elpidio Barzaga at ang mga beteranong manunulat na sina Ted Melendres, Joaquin Henson at Barry Pascua.
“I have no idea at this point. I’m surprised,” wika ni Loyzaga kahapon sa PSA Forum sa Shakey’s Malate. “I have to make it sink in because it was the first time I heard about my name. It’s an honor to be a part of this list but I haven’t received any information so I’ll probably wait.”
Kilala si Loyzaga bilang isa sa mga inaasahan sa depensa nang siya’y naglaro sa Toyota, Great Taste at Ginebra.
Bahagi rin siya bilang miyembro ng RP team na hinawakan ni Jaworski na nakakuha ng pilak na medalya sa 1990 Asian Games na ginanap sa Beijing, China .
Pagkatapos ng kanyang paglalaro sa PBA ay nagsilbi si Loyzaga bilang Commissioner ng Metropolitan Basketball Association, UAAP at Philippine Sports Commission.
“The players in the PBA today are bigger, faster and can jump higher. Even the game has evolved,” ani Loyzaga. “Comparing the players today to our time, perhaps, it may be unfair. But they have their own talent and brilliance in the game of basketball. We just have to appreciate what they are doing. And the PBA has its purpose. The reason why it’s still there is because it has been successful in meeting its objectives. As long as the PBA achieves its goals, it will always be here for the long run.”
Naunang iniluklok bilang mga Greatest Players ng PBA noong 2000 sina Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Alvin Patrimonio, Bogs Adornado, Abet Guidaben, Benjie Paras, Atoy Co, Freddie Hubalde, Philip Cezar, Ricky Brown, Johnny Abarrientos, Ato Agustin, Francis Arnaiz, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Jerry Codinera, Kenneth Duremdes, Bernie Fabiosa, Danny Florencio, Jojo Lastimosa, Lim Eng Beng, Samboy Lim, Ronnie Magsanoc at Manny Paner.
Samantala, kinompirma ni Loyzaga ang kanyang pagtulong sa ilang mga PBA Legends para sa ilang mga exhibition na laro simula sa Marso 2015 para tumulong sa National Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Center sa pag-gabay sa mga tao tungkol sa paghahanda sa mga kalamidad.
“It’s basically a tournament of former PBA players of different generations. We’re putting this league together to continue the fellowship and what we want to do is to incorporate the advocacy that we are espousing, which is disaster prevention and management,” pagtatapos ni Loyzaga. (James Ty III)
