IN an era of free agency, trades, and super teams, it is a rare feat that Gabe Norwood was able to play for only one team for his entire 17-year PBA run with Rain or Shine.
From the time he was drafted No. 1 in the 2008 draft, Norwood’s loyalty was unquestioned having played for Rain or Shine until he decided to hang it up at the close of the Elasto Painters’ campaign in the 50th Season Philippine Cup just recently.
For Norwood, loyalty is important to him, especially with how Rain or Shine treated him over the course of his career.
“I like to think I pride myself as a pretty loyal person especially with the loyalty shown to me and Rain or Shine did since Day One,” said Norwood.
“Winning isn’t easy in the PBA and I think we all understand the difficulties that may come with resources and things like that. But Rain or Shine, you find ways to compete and I take a lot of pride in that,” he said.
READ: Yeng on Gabe Norwood: 'He's the epitome of loyalty, decency'
With how Rain or Shine handled him on and off the court since Day One, the 40-year-old Norwood said not once did he thought about leaving Rain or Shine.
He recalled the times when Rain or Shine bosses, particularly the late Margaret Yu, also known as Mommy Yu - the mother of team owner Raymond Yu - would go out of their way to celebrate special occasions.
“At the end of the day, I’m a player. That’s what I hire an agent for. So if those conversations came across the table with my agent, I really let him handle those. But I was very vocal about wanting to be with Rain or Shine from early on in my career. I’m blessed to be able to have one place at home,” Norwood said.
“Mommy Yu, rest in peace, I got chills just saying her name, she took me in, honestly, like a son. My holidays, when my parents couldn’t make the trip, I was spending Christmas, New Year, my birthdays with the Yu family. They didn’t have to do it. They didn’t have to do that. They did something I really appreciate.”
The underdog mentality of Rain or Shine also endeared Norwood to the independent franchise, and being such is right up his alley. Prior to his PBA stint, Norwood was part of the George Mason University team that reached the NCAA Final Four in 2006.
The Patriots’ run in the NCAA also put Norwood on the map, and a couple of years later, he was in the Philippines playing professional basketball.
“I’ve played for underdogs my whole career,” said Norwood. “I like being the underdog but it makes winning that much more special.”
By playing his whole career with Rain or Shine, Norwood has seen it all. From becoming an upstart team with Sol Mercado to being champions of the 2012 Governors’ Cup with the likes of Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Beau Belga, and JR Quinahan.
From the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup title to the lean years and into the new batch of E-Painters such as Adrian Nocum, Santi Santillan, and Jhonard Clarito.
“To kind of see where we were able to take the program right away from the time we were drafted, kind of changing the culture of how things were done," Norwood said.
"Coach Yeng comes in, we get two championships. He leaves, and then we go back to coach Caloy (Garcia), back to coach Chris (Gavina), and coach Yeng comes back. It’s been an awesome experience to see how the team changed over the years, and how he will get better in the future."
Bright future for Rain or Shine
Even though he is retiring, a door has been left ajar for Norwood to still become part of the team as Guiao has expressed his desire to have him as part of the coaching staff now that his playing career is over.
Regardless, Norwood sees a bright future for the ballclub.
“My college coach, first day of practice, every year in my four years at George Mason University, we have a quote of the day, and he would always say, ‘Begin with the end in mind.’ Coach Yeng kind of harps on that as well. I like to think, me walking away right now has put the organization in a better spot than it was when I showed up. And now it’s on the guys who are still here to push it forward, and hopefully that means more championships,” said Norwood.
He also hopes that the current and future Rain or Shine players can exemplify the qualities that made him stay and win championships with the franchise.
“I’m excited for this group and whoever gets added to Rain or Shine in the future, (just) to come out and compete and play with the same type of kind of joy and fire that, I like to think, I played with for my career."
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