Ramon Fernandez was among the seven new inductees into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Philippine Sports Complex House in Manila. The group, dubbed the "Magnificent Seven," also includes Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco, Paralympic bronze medalist Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta, tennis icon Cecil Mamiit, multi-sport athlete Bea Lucero-Lhuillier, athletics great Isidro Del Prado, and the late Eduardo Pacheco, who excelled in basketball and football.
Inductees and ceremony
Six of the seven inductees attended the ceremony, while Pacheco's son represented him and received the posthumous honor. Fernandez, who was born in Maasin City but has long resided in Cebu, delivered a message emphasizing that the recognition is not just about championships, trophies, and records. He said it reminds him of the value of years of sacrifice, hard work, discipline, and service as an athlete.
Fernandez's legacy
Fernandez is widely regarded as one of the greatest Filipino basketball players of all time. He represented the Philippines in numerous international events. He is a four-time Most Valuable Player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and a product of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in Cebu City.
