Gabe Norwood’s jersey no. 5 could be immortalized within Rain or Shine soon.
Coach Yeng Guiao disclosed that a proposal has been made to do as much after the Elasto Painters lifer bid adieu to a PBA career that spanned 17 years.
A final decision has yet to be made, but the champion mentor is optimistic that the management will agree as a way to honor the decorated swingman.
“We actually proposed to retire his number [as a] sign of recognition and respect for what he’s done,” he said.
“I think management would be very willing to do that.”
Guiao said as much on Monday night, moments after Norwood played his final game, which was a 98-89 defeat to Meralco that ousted RoS from the Season 50 Philippine Cup quarterfinals.
Aside from blowing a twice-to-beat advantage, the team is disappointed that they couldn’t give the 40-year-old a much better exit.
“We wanted to give Gabe a really good exit. Sayang,” he rued of the loss that also cut the team’s four-conference streak of reaching the semis.
And so, a jersey retirement is a way of theirs in honoring the legacy of Norwood, who helped the franchise win a pair of PBA championships.
“Nonetheless, I think we should still give recognition to what he’s done for the franchise for the last 17 years,” said Guiao, who returned to the club in 2022.
