LESS than a month before the PBA’s 50th season comes off the wraps, four players have hung up their sneakers—Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, who was tapped to be Magnolia’s new coach; Ryan Reyes and Ping Exciminiano of TNT, and NLEX’s Sean Anthony.
Among the four, Tenorio is the most decorated cager, having won eight titles, four finals MVP plums, Best Player of the Conference nod, and 10 All-Star Game inclusions—aside from several Gilas Pilipinas stints—in a 19-year stint with stops at San Miguel Beer, the defunct Alaska ballclub, and lastly with the Kings.
Tabbed by the Beermen at No. 4 overall in the 2006 Draft, the Tropang 5G’s Kelly Williams, chosen as the top pick, is now the only active player from that class.
Reyes entered the pro league two years later as the third choice by former PBA team Sta. Lucia behind Joe Devance and Samigue Eman and also had eight crowns under his belt in a PBA journey highlighted by four Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
Anthony and Exciminiano both had less stellar careers but were serviceable and big impact players.
With the four kissing their playing days in Asia’s pioneering pro league goodbye, 77 rookie hopefuls were picked in this season’s Draft last Sept. 7.
One of them was Yukien Andrada, younger brother of former PBA forward-center Yutien, who went to Magnolia at No. 6.
While his older brother is no longer strutting his wares in the league, the San Beda University standout certainly got helpful pieces of advice.
“He just said good luck to me. My brother has always been there for me ever since college ko, high school ako, and even up to this day,” Andrada said. “So, thankful lang din ako sa mga advice na ibinibigay niya sa akin.
“I’ve always taken it for the good of my career and I’m really, really thankful for him,” he added.
While players face the inevitability of retirement, new bloods—and heroes—will surely rise.
True-blue PBA fans can’t wait for Oct. 5 when the landmark golden season begins.
