Friday, March 16, 2007
Cebuano Manny Paner poised to find spot in PBA Hall of Fame
CEBU basketball legend Manny Paner has again raised the Cebuano banner high, as he leads the list of 14 nominees who are set to be enshrined to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Hall of Fame next month.
The former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancer Paner, a native of Naga, Cebu, made his mark in the professional league after he revolutionized his position as center in the PBA.
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The six-foot three Paner, who played for 12 seasons in the PBA where his height was made as the strapping standard for big men during his time, will be joined on top of the list by legendary coach Ron Jacobs, the American mentor widely credited for infusing science into the art of coaching.
Eight votes
Paner and Jacobs both received eight votes from the eight-man nominations committee during deliberations at the PBA Office last Tuesday.
Also included in the elite list of nominees are four marquee players, two top-caliber imports, a couple of television analysts, a second champion coach, a founding league official, a veteran sportswriter, and a respected ball club top executive.
The names will be submitted to the Honors Committee for final appraisal on March 20.
The 2007 inductees will be honored in a ceremony between games on April 8 at the Araneta Coliseum, joining inaugural Hall of Famers William 'Bogs' Adornado, Ramon Fernandez, Robert Jaworski, Philip Cezar, Fortunato Co, Francis Arnaiz, Virgilio 'Baby' Dalupan, Leo Prieto, Emerson Coseteng, Danny Floro, Joe Cantada and Rodrigo 'Rudy' Salud.
Nominated from the players group were Danilo Florencio, Alberto Guidaben, Alfredo Hubalde and Ricardo Brown.
Getting the nod as past imports were Norman Black and Glenn McDonald, while television commentators Romy Kintanar and Pinggoy Pengson, both of whom had passed on, made it easily from the ranks of broadcasters. (JSV/With PBA Media Bureau)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 16, 2007 issue)
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