April 9 traditionally has been national holiday as we Filipinos commemorate the fall of Bataan to the invading Japanese forces during the World War II hostilities.

In sports, April 9 also is a special date to local basketball fans.

The first game (or playdate) in the hallowed history of Asia’s first professional league, the Philippine Basketball Association, was held on April 9, 1975.

Through the last 35 years, the PBA unquestionably has produced numerous heroes and legends in Philippine basketball.

In conjunction with the pro league’s 35th anniversary, this Hoopster has come up with his own list of the 35 greatest players in PBA annals.

I am sure you readers may disagree with some of the selections. Any differences in opinion are highly respected.

Bring out the drums and bugles for here are our 35-player PBA Honors List in alphabetical order (only homegrown Filipinos or Fil-foreigners who played at least eight seasons qualified for consideration):

1-William (Bog) Adornado (12 seasons, 1975-87, 586 games, 20.4 ppg, 1975-1976-1981 MVP), 2-Renato (Ato) Agustin (12 seasons, 1989-2001, 569 games, 14.0 ppg, 1992 MVP), 3-Paul (Bong) Alvarez (12 seasons, 1989-2005, 403 games, 16.4 ppg), 4-Marlou Aquino ( 14th season, 1996-current, 597 games-plus, 12.7 ppg-plus, 1996 Rookie of the Year), 5-Francis Arnaiz (12 seasons, 1975-86, 613 games, 16.8 ppg, 4.8 apg), 6-Nelson Asaytono (17 seasons, 1989-2006, 820 games, 15.0 ppg), and 7-Ricardo (Ricky) Brown (8 seasons, 1983-90, 340 games, 23.1 ppg, 7.3 apg, 1983 Rookie of the Year, 1985 MVP);

8-Allan Caidic (13 seasons, 1987-99, 598 games, 19.6 ppg, 1987 Rookie of the Year, 1990 MVP), 9-Jeffrey Cariaso (15th season, 1995-current, 645 games-plus, 13.7 ppg-plus, 4.7 rpg-plus, 1995 Rookie of the Year), 10-Philip Cezar (17 seasons, 1975-91, 918 games, 13.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1980 MVP), 11-Fortunato (Atoy) Co (14 seasons, 1975-88, 749 games, 17.3 ppg, 1979 MVP), 12-Jerry Codiñera (17 seasons, 1988-2005, 871 games, 12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg); 13-Kenneth Duremdes (13 seasons, 1995-2008, 527 games, 13.4 ppg, 1998 MVP), and 14-Dennis Espino (15th season, 1995-present, 600 games-plus, 13.9 ppg-plus, 6.8 rpg-plus);

15-Ernesto (Estoy) Estrada (8 seasons, 1975-82, 289 games, 19.6 ppg); 16-Ramon Fernandez (20 seasons, 1975-94, 1,074 games, 17.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 4.9 apg, 1.2 spg, 1.7 bpg, 1982-1984-1986-1988 MVP), 17-Danilo (Danny) Florencio (8 seasons, 1975-83, 343 games, 16.0 ppg), 18-Alberto (Abet) Guidaben (21 seasons, 1975-95, 1,081 games, 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1983-1987 MVP), 19-Alfredo (Freddie) Hubalde (16 seasons, 1975-90, 793 games, 12.5 ppg, 1977 MVP); 20-Danny Ildefonso (12th season, 1998-current, 518 games-plus, 12.7 ppg-plus, 6.9 rpg-plus, 1998 Rookie of the Year, 2000-2001 MVP), and 21-Robert (Sonny) Jaworski (24 seasons, 1975-98, 958 games, 12.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1978 MVP);

22-Isabelo (Jojo) Lastimosa (15 seasons, 1988-2002, 789 games, 15.3 ppg, 1988 Rookie of the Year), 23-Avelino (Samboy) Lim (10 seasons, 1986-1997, 335 games, 16.0 ppg), 24-Lim Eng Beng (11 seasons, 1975-86, 416 games, 14.1 ppg, 25-Zandro (Jun) Limpot (14 seasons, 1993-2007, 558 games, 16.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1993 Rookie of the Year), 26-Ronald (Ronnie) Magsanoc (15 seasons, 1988-2002, 618 games, 12.7 ppg, 5.2 apg), 27-Vergel Meneses (14 seasons, 1992-2006, 590 games, 16.0 ppg, 1995 MVP), and 28-Eric Menk (11th season, 1999-current, 350 games-plus, 15.5 ppg-plus, 10.2 rpg-plus, 2005 MVP);

29-Willie Miller (9th season, 2001-current, 415 games-plus, 14.6 ppg-plus, 4.7 rpg-plus, 4.0 apg-plus, 2002-2007 MVP), 30-Manuel (Manny) Paner (12 seasons, 1975-86, 473 games, 12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg), 31-Venacio (Benjie) Paras (15 seasons, 1989-2003, 586 games, 17.7 ppg, 7.6rpg, 2.3 bpg, 1989-1999 MVP), 32-Alvin Patrimonio (17 seasons, 1988-2005, 857 games, 17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1991-1993-1994-1997 MVP), 33-Danny Seigle (9 seasons, 1999-2009, 346 games, 18.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 34-Pauliasi (Asi) Taulava (11th season, 1999-current, 316 games-plus, 18.2 ppg-plus, 12.5 rpg-plus, 2003 MVP), and 35-Arnulfo (Arnie) Tuadles (14 seasons, 1979-92, 692 games, 13.6 ppg, 1979 Rookie of the Year).

My other choices: All-time greatest player, Ramon Fernandez; all-time greatest coach, Virgilio (Baby) Dalupan (15 championships with Crispa, Great Taste and Purefoods); and all-time greatest team, 1983 Crispa (46-16, .742, under coach Tommy Manotoc).