THE Meralco Bolts stood as proud as the TNT Tropang 5G when Ranidel De Ocampo’s no. 33 jersey was officially retired Friday night.
Lest everybody has forgotten, De Ocampo was once a Bolt and actually played his final two years in the PBA donning Meralco’s orange and blue.
So it was just fitting De Ocampo’s iconic playing jersey being retired in the presence of the last two franchises he played for in the PBA.
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Coach Luigi Trillo said the Meralco organization considers the 44-year-old De Ocampo a member of its family as well.
“He’s part of our family too. We’re very proud of him,” said Trillo in reminding people about De Ocampo being a Meralco player not too long ago.
“He’s not only part of TNT, but he’s part of the Meralco family rin.”
The jersey retirement came at halftime of Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semis series between the Tropang 5G and the Bolts at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both teams later had their photos taken with the 6-foot-6 De Ocampo while carrying his framed jersey.
Although largely identified as one of TNT’s pillars during its championship runs prior to the pandemic, the stretch forward out of St. Francis of Assisi spent the last two seasons of his career at Meralco when he was traded by the Ka-Tropa along with a 2019 second round pick for Justin Chua and Norbert Torres in a three-team that also involved Phoenix.
De Ocampo won six championships with TNT, and while he did reach the finals twice during his stint with Meralco, the Bolts never get to win a crown with him around as the team was twice ambushed by Barangay Ginebra in the Governors Cup title duel in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
At the height of COVID-19 pandemic, the now TNT deputy coach announced his retirement from playing.
“We had the opportunity to have him (RdO),” said Trillo, who sees De Ocampo as a humble person despite the many achievements he attained as a player.
“A quality guy who won so many championships and had been to the national team. Napaka-kumbaba. So it was nice to be a part of that and witness that here.”
But Meralco has a job to do and proceeded to defeat TNT, 97-89, to somewhat spoil RdO’s special night.
The Bolts still trail the Tropang 5G in the best-of-seven series, with Game 4 slated on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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