GABE Norwood officially retired with the very same franchise where his PBA career began.
Rain or Shine gave its most loyal player in franchise history the highest of honors when it formally retired his famed No. 5 jersey during halftime of the team’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Converge in Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Fittingly, Norwood's No.5 is the franchise's first ever retired jersey number.
READ: Norwood jersey retirement bookmarks RoS franchise history: Guiao
The family of the 41-year-old Fil-Am guard was present for the special moment along with co-team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que, close friends Chris Ross, Simon Enciso, and Sol Mercado, and the entire Rain or Shine organization as they honor the player who proudly wore the team’s blue and yellow jersey his entire 17-year career.
Norwood was the Elasto Painters No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft out of George Mason University
“I hope I brought joy and excitement to your lives when you were tuned in to watch. I prayed that I carried myself in a way honorable to represent the country,” said Norwood, who had to pause for a brief moment as he tried not to control his emotions as he spoke at mid-court.
“Just extremely grateful for the opportunity to come out and compete.”
Norwood thanked the entire Rain or Shine organization and made special mention of the late team matriarch Margaret 'Mommy' Yu, for 'taking care of me like her own son when I was drafted by Rain or Shine.'
Then there was also Rain or Shine deputy Caloy Garcia, who served as Norwood's first ever coach in the league, as well as coaches Yeng Guiao, Chris Gavina, and Chot Reyes and Tab Baldwin with the national team.
"All the coaches who impacted my life here in the PBA," he said.
Norwood also thanked the Bayang RoS for supporting him, the Elasto Painters, and the league itself.
"I pray that you all continue to support the PBA, continue to support Rain or Shine,” added the former Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time All-Defensive Team member, three-time recipient of the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award, and an 11-time All-Star.
Team alternate governor Emerson Oribiana spoke on behalf of the organization and likewise expressed his gratitude to Norwood for being the loyal player that he was for the Elasto Painters.
"We would like to thank you and honor you for your undending loyalty for all your accomplishments that you have given, not only to the franchise, but also to the PBA as a whole and the Philippine basketball in its entirety," said Oribiana.
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