LARRY Fonacier has formally retired from playing.
And now he joins the growing ranks of former PBA players turned team managers.
Larry Fonacier retires, stays with NLEX as team manager
The 40-year-old gunner is now the new team manager of the NLEX Road Warriors, the franchise announced on Saturday.
"Yes, he's now the team manager of NLEX," confirmed NLEX executive Ronald Dulatre.
The seven-time champion and former Gilas Pilipinas stalwart just finished his commitment with the Road Warriors during the Commissioner's Cup, after which he decided to finally retire from the game after a 17-year pro career.
The 6-foot-2 forward's contract with the team ended last Dec. 31, and opted not to renew.
Fonacier is the latest PBA player turned team executive after four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio (Magnolia), Jojo Lastimosa (TNT), Ronald Tubid (Terrafirma), Jireh Ibanes (Rain or Shine), and former Ateneo teammate Paolo Bugia (Phoenix).
Other former players who's also acting as team manager are Gee Abanilla (San Miguel), Bonnie Tan (NorthPort), Paolo Trillo (Meralco), and Raymond Rodriguez (Barangay Ginebra).
Fonacier was reactivated by NLEX at the start of the league's 47th season after initially playing for Cavitex Braves in the PBA 3x3.
In the Commissioner's Cup which proved to be his final conference, he played in a total of seven games and averaged 1.2 points as the Road Warriors lost in their playoff against Rain or Shine for the last quarterfinals berth.
In 17 seasons, Fonacier won championships while playing for Red Bull, Alaska, and TNT.
He was a three-time All Star and was finals MVP of the 2011-12 Philippine Cup with Talk 'N Text.
Fonacier was selected no. 14 overall (second round) by Red Bull in the 2005 Draft and initially, became the lowest picked player to ever win the Rookie of the Year award, a distinction which Meralco's Aaron Black now holds.
He holds career averages of 8.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists playing in 683 games.
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