TOP 10 All Time Greatest San Miguel Beermen Players

San Miguel Beermen are filled with great players from their entrance with their lead man Ramon Fernandez to the current power house with JunMar Fajardo. It's really hard to name their TOP 10 because you have to snob some of them though you wish to get them in. I'm sorry for the other player who did not make it, we must consider the generation now specially those post-grandlsam era of SMB.

The rankings are based from their Achievements, impact in the team and their tenure.

Special Mention : Hector Calma, Yvez Dignadice, Nelson Asaytono, Freddie Abuda, Jay Washington, Nic Belasco, Alex Cabagnot, Dondon Hontiveros, Dwight Lago, Boybits Victoria, Art Dela Cruz and the rest who been big part of the SMB squad

***EDITORS NOTE
 Apparently, as of this date (July 2015) JunMar Fajardo have win  the back to back MVP, This could make him part of the TOP 10. Allan Caidic removed from the TOP 10 as for JunMar Fajardo inserted to the list.

#10 Abet Guidaben

Career history
1986 Manila Beer Brewmasters
1987-1988 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• 2× PBA Most Valuable Player (1983, 1987)
• 5× PBA Mythical First Team (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988)
• 3× PBA All-Star
• Member, PBA's 25 Greatest Players
• Enshrined into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2007

One of the few SMB who won the MVP  though he only tenured for 3yrs with the team before he became a journeyman. Guidaben started as a good rebounder but later developed a strong inside game complimented with accurate off-the-glass jumpers from the perimeter. He was also one of the earliest dunkers in the PBA making the slam dunk vogue in the league a decade before the arrival of highflyers like Samboy Lim, Paul "Bong" Alvarez, Vergel Meneses and Nelson Asaytono. He also had a great rivalry with Toyota's Fernandez which was considered a classic in itself. He won MVP honors in 1983 while with Crispa and 1987 while with San Miguel Beer. Unfortunately, he wound up as a journeyman of sorts having played for eight teams.

#9 Alvin Teng

Career history
1986-1994 Magnolia Cheese Makers/San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Mythical Second Team in 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1993
• PBA Most Improved Playerin 1988
• PBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1993
• PBA All-Defensive Team in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994
• 5-time PBA All-Star
• 1992 PBA All-Star Game MVP

Few people know him as a role player during the SMB grandslam era because the team was filled with great players. Teng is known for his massive defender and that no one can pass like a cop, the reason he got the monicker RoboCop. He's one of the integral for the SMB's winning parade because of his defending mind set and Ball IQ for a big man probably he's known to be the greatest defender of SMB ever had.

#8 Olsen Racela

Career history
1997–2011 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• PBA Mr. Quality Minutes (1993)
• 3x PBA Mythical Second Team (1998, 1999, 2005)
• 2x PBA Mythical First Team (2000–2001)
• 5x PBA All-Star
• 21st member of 2000-Assist Club

In 1997, Racela moved to the San Miguel Beermen in what became the turnaround of his young career. Under new San Miguel head coach Ron Jacobs, Racela's skills were noticed under a rebuilding Beermen squad of Nelson Asaytono, Freddie Abuda and Mike Mustre.

Racela as its top point guard, San Miguel became the league's new dynasty under Jong Uichico, winning five titles from 1999-2001.After Johnny Abarrientos announced his retirement, Racela will play for another PBA season with San Miguel. He announced his retirement on January 28, 2011 at the Araneta Coliseum at the start of Game 4 of the finals. He had played the entire finals series before he hanged up his #17 jersey in which Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters subdued San Miguel Beermen in 6 games.

#7 Samboy Lim 

Career history
1988–1997 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• PBA All-Star (1990, 1996)
• Sportsmanship Award (1993)
• PBA Mr. Quality Minutes (1992)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (1990)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (1993)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP (he scored 42 points) (1990)
• PBA Hall of Fame Class of 2009

In his Rookie years, he usually came off the bench as the sixth man of the already star-studded San Miguel squad, he was able to pull off an outstanding rookie performance and battled neck-to-neck against Lastimosa for the Rookie of the Year Award which was eventually won by latter.


In 1993, he was awarded with the first ever sportsmanship award for his exemplary behavior on the court. Lim is also a member of the Mythical Second Team Selection twice (1990 and 1993). His remarkable play was a joy to watch and he was a constant fan favorite because of his aerial maneuvers. However, also because of those seemingly inhuman skills, Lim suffered numerous serious injuries that limited his PBA career to just nine seasons. Despite the fact that he never won an MVP award, Lim was considered by fans as the "Real MVP."

#6 Ato Agustin

Career history
1989–1996 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards
PBA Most Valuable Player (1992)
3x PBA Mythical First Team (1992–1994)
PBA Mythical Second Team (1991)
PBA Most Improved Player (1991)


Agustin was the Most Valuable Player awardee of the PBA in 1992, one of the few SMB who won the MVP. Ato is known for his clutch shots in crucial time and when firing hot he explode like a bomb, the reason he got the monicker "Atom Bomb" Agustin. He's one of the member of SMB's Grandlslam dynasty and had lead the team in offense. Agustin is a pure shooting guard who is more on offense, he's footwork and hands shooting is a gift for every SG .

#5 Arwind Santos

Career history
2009–present San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• PBA All-Rookie Team (2007)
• 6x PBA Mythical First Team (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2006-07)
• 7x PBA All-Defensive Team (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• 2x PBA Defensive Player of the Year (2007-2008, 2010-2011)
• 2x PBA Best Player of the Conference (2011 Governors Cup, 2013 Governors Cup)
• PBA Finals MVP (2011 Governors Cup)
• 6x PBA All-Star (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
• PBA Blitz Game MVP (2007)
• PBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
• PBA Most Valuable Player (2013)

In the 2009–10 season, his first year with the San Miguel franchise, he shared stellar minutes with the likes of Jay Washington, Dondon Hontiveros, Danny Seigle and Alex Cabagnot. Because of this his averages dipped a bit but again he made it to the Mythical First Team (3rd-straight) and All-Defensive Team (4th time in 4 years).

In the 2011 PBA Governors Cup, he was awarded with the Best Player of the Conference. He also led his team to an improbable championship in the Governor's Cup conference over the highly favored Talk 'N Text team who were aiming to complete a rare grand slam. In so doing, he was named the Phoenix Fuels-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP and wins the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team for the 4th and 5th year in a row, respectively. Due to his strong showing, he was a prime candidate for the MVP award alongside Barangay Ginebra's Mark Caguioa and Talk 'N Text's Jimmy Alapag.

In the 2011–12 PBA Season, Santos led Petron Blaze Boosters to a pair of semifinal showings in the PBA Philippine Cup and PBA Governors Cup in a rather disappointing season for him and the team that led to speculations that coach Agustin is now on the way out. Nonetheless he still won the Mythical First Team citation, his 5th in his 6 years in the league, and his 6th consecutive membership in the All-Defensive Team. He was again a strong candidate for the coveted MVP award by placing second in the statistical points behind Gary David of Powerade Tigers.

In the 2012-13 PBA season, Santos led the Petron Blaze Boosters to a runner-up finish in the season-ending Governors Cup against the San Mig Coffee Mixers, he also made it to the Mythical First Team for the sixth straight year and the All-Defensive Team for the seventh straight year.

#4 JunMar Fajardo

Career history
2012–present San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• 2014 PBA Most Valuable Player 
• 2015 PBA Most Valuable Player 
• PBA Finals MVP (2015 Governors')
• 2× PBA All-Star (2013, 2014)
• 2× PBA Mythical First Team (2014, 2015)
• PBA Mythical Second Team (2013)
• 2× PBA All-Defensive Team (2014, 2015)
• PBA Most Improved Player (2014)
• 2013 PBA Best Player of the Conference (2013–14 Philippine, 2014–15 Philippine, 2015 Governors')
• PBA All Rookie Team (2013)
• PBA Sportsmanship Awardee (2015)

#3 Danny Seigle

Career history
1999–2011 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• 9x PBA All-Star (1999-2001, 2004-2008, 2011)
• 1999 PBA Rookie of the Year
• 1999 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Commissioner's Cup)
• 1999 PBA Mythical First Team
• 1999 PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 1999 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Governor's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Commissioner's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (Governor's Cup)
• 2000 PBA Mythical First Team
• 2001 PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (All-Filipino Cup)
• 2001 PBA Mythical First Team
• 2005-06 PBA Comeback Player of the Year
• 2005-06 PBA Mythical Second Team
• 2006 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference
• 2006 Brunei Sultan Cup Most Valuable Player
• 2007 FIBA Asia Club Championship Mythical Five Selection

In 1999, San Miguel acquired Seigle as its direct hire Filipino-foreign cager, after the league instituted a rule for every team to have one Filipino-foreign cager acquired without going through the process of joining the rookie draft.

Seigle won the Rookie of the Year honors[2] but failed to win the coveted Most Valuable Player award, he should have been another Benjie Paras who's the only one received both MVP and Rookie awards on the same year in 1989.

In 2000, Seigle continued to spark big numbers for San Miguel and led the team in regaining the Commissioner's and Governor's Cup titles. He was one of the front runner to win the MVP award, but lost to his teammate Danny Ildefonso. While the Beermen only won the 2001 All-Filipino Conference, they appeared in all three championship series during the year. Once again, he lost to Ildefonso in the MVP race.

#2 Ramon Fernandez 

Career history

1984–1985 Beer Hausen/Manila Beer
1988–1994 San Miguel Beermen

Career highlights and awards

• 6x PBA All-Star (1989–1994)
• 4x PBA Most Valuable Player (1982, 1984, 1986, 1988)
• 13x PBA Mythical First Team (1976–1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991,1992)
• 3x PBA Mythical Second Team (1985, 1987, 1990)
• 19x PBA champion
• PBA's 25 Greatest Players
• PBA Hall of Fame Class of 2005

Fernandez was a member of San Miguel's historic grandslam in 1989 while making amends with rival Jaworski during the 1989 All-Star Game.


He was the first four-time MVP of the league, winning it in even numbered years during the 1980s—1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988. Considered as the best center to have come out of the PBA, he can however play all five positions on the court with uncanny ability. His trademark one-handed running jumper dubbed the "elegant shot" was his most potent offensive weapon. In 1984, he came awfully close to averaging in triple-double the whole season, being only five assists shy from achieving the feat. He ended his PBA career as the all-time leader in most points scored with 18,996, number two behind Jaworski in assists with 5,220, number one in defensive rebounds with 6,435, number two in offensive rebounds behind Guidaben with 2,217, number one in overall rebounds with 8,652, number one in minutes played with 36624:30, number 2 in games played behind Guidaben, number one in blocks with 1,853, and, only since February 5, 2007, number two behind Johnny Abarrientos in steals with 1,302 (He retired number one in steals in 1994). He ended with career averages of 17.7 points per game, 8.1 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game, and 1.7 blocks per game in 1,074 games.

#1 Danny Ildefonso

Career history
1998–2013 San Miguel Beermen / Petron Blaze Boosters

Career highlights and awards

• 8x PBA All-Star (1999–2001, 2003–2005, 2007, 2009)
• PBA Rookie of the Year (1998)
• 2x PBA Mythical First Team (2000–2001)
• 3x PBA Mythical Second Team (1998–1999, 2007)
• PBA Governor's Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (1999)
• 2x PBA Most Valuable Player (2000–2001)
• 2x PBA Commissioner's Cup Best Player of the Conference (2000–2001)
• 2x PBA Governor's Cup Best Player of the Conference (2000–2001)
• PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals Most Valuable Player (2000)
• PBA All-Filipino Cup Best Player of the Conference (2001)
• PBA All-Star Most Valuable Player (2001)
• PBA Fiesta Conference Finals Most Valuable Player (2005)
• PBA Comeback Player of the Year (2011)

Ildefonso was a the first draft pick overall by Formula Shell in the 1998 PBA draft, but was traded to San Miguel for the Beermen's second overall pick, Noy Castillo, and cash. In his rookie season, Ildefonso became one of the key players for the Beermen alongside Nelson Asaytono, leading the Beermen to two runner-up finish in the All-Filipino and Commissioner's Cup, losing to Alaska on both occasions. At season's end, he won the Rookie of the Year honors .

The next season, with the departure of Asaytono and the arrival of Filipino-American rookie Danny Seigle and the performances of imports Terquin Mott and Lamont Strothers, San Miguel won two titles in the 1999 Commissioner's Cup and Governor's Cup, ending a five-year title drought.

In 2000, Ildefonso and Seigle would again lead San Miguel to two titles, retaining the Commissioner's and Governor's Cup championships. Ildefonso won the two of the five straight Best Player of the Conference honors and defeated Seigle to win the Most Valuable Player Awards.

In 2001, San Miguel defeated sister team Barangay Ginebra Kings, 4-2 to win the All-Filipino Cup. Despite two losses to Red Bull and Sta. Lucia in the Commissioner's Cup and Governor's Cup finals series, Ildefonso went on to sweep the Best Player of the Conference honors and won his second Most Valuable Player Award, joining Bogs Adornado and Alvin Patrimonio as the only players to win the said award on back-to-back seasons. He also won the All-Star Game MVP honors for the victorious Veterans team. With this feature, Danny Ildefonso became one of the rare players to have won all three major MVP awards in the league: regular season, all-star game, and finals MVP.

During the 2005 Fiesta Conference, the Beermen made it to the semifinals against Red Bull. Ildefonso played one of his best games of the tournament, and hit numerous clutch shots in the tournament, including a series-clinching game-winning fade away over the outstretched arms of Red Bull import Earl Barron to lead San Miguel to the finals against the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.

In the championship series, Ildefonso again played another impressive performance for San Miguel, leading them to their first title since 2001 and defeating the Phone Pals, 4-1. During the series, Ildefonso made a game-winning layup in game 2 against Asi Taulava and in Game 5, a running jumper that put San Miguel in the lead for good to clinch the series. Ildefonso was named Finals MVP.