ONE of the veteran referees in the PBA is hanging his whistle.
Manolito 'Nol' Quilinguen has retired after serving as a referee for more than three decades in various leagues with Game 6 of the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup finals last Friday night at the Philsports Arena being his final game.
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“PBA referee 13, signing off,” Quilinguen wrote on his Facebook account.
The 60-year-old Quilinguen, an 11-year PBA referee, thanked the people that became part of his journey as a referee including the players and the coaches that he worked with.
“Sinasabi man ng aking puso’t isipan na kaya pa, ngunit ang aking katawan ay nagsasabing oras na para magpahinga,” said Quilinguen.
Hundreds of people, from referees to league officials, left messages on Quilinguen’s Facebook post.
“Sa pagtatapos ng kabanatang ito, nais kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga taong nakasama ko sa aking paglalakbay. Mula sa aking mga kasamahan na naging pamilya ko sa bawat laro, sa mga kaibigan na nagbigay inspirasyon, sa mga players na pinaghatulan ko ng patas at tapat, hanggang sa mga namuno/namumuno ng liga na nagtiwala sa aking kakayahan—maraming salamat sa bawat sandali, aral, at alaalang binuo natin,” Quilinguen added.
Born in Dumaguete City and raised in Caloocan City, Quilinguen has been a PBA referee since 2004. He entered the big leagues as a referee in 1996 when he officiated in the now defunct Philippine Basketball League for eight years before making it to the PBA.
Aside from being a PBA referee, Quilinguen is currently a barangay captain of Barangay 176-D, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. He was also a member of the barangay council for two terms previously.
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