James Yap and Mark Caguioa, two members of the PBA’s all-time greatest players list, are probably some of the biggest names who have yet to announce retirement despite being inactive for a few years now.
In a previous interview with Pinoystep.com, Yap was asked on why he doesn’t want to have ceremonies that would formalize his retirement.
“Ayaw ko ng mga ganun eh,” the two-time PBA Most Valuable Player simply responded.
Yap remained actively playing even as Caguioa was even spotted seeing action in pick up games in Las Vegas by former PBA champion coach Rino Salazar, who was working as a game official in some of the local games there.
Yet, these two superstars refused to make announcement on their retirement and instead quietly moved out of the PBA spotlight. These two players, however, were even being given comparison by retired players like Jayjay Helterbrand, Paul Artadi and Ronald Tubid, now head coach of Terrafirma Dyip.
Both Yap and Caguioa had stellar careers.
On top of winning two MVP awards, Yap was part of seven championship teams of the old Purefoods franchise, including that 2014 grand slam. He also saw action for two more teams, Rain or Shine, and his last squad, Blackwater.
Caguioa, a former league MVP, on the other hand, was a nine-time PBA champion, which he all got while playing for only one team — Ginebra.
League Iron Men LA Tenorio, now the new coach of the Magnolia Hotshots, and team captain Mark Barroca, shared their opinion on why great players like Yap and Caguioa avoided retirement ceremonies and simply chose to fade away quietly.
“Bawat tao naman may right kung anong gusto nilang gawin sa career nila,” said Tenorio. “I’m very close with Mark. I know his reasons kung bakit ayaw niyang mag-retire — with the announcement and everything. Ayaw niya ng mga ganun. I know him.”
“James Yap, I don’t know his reasons, but for sure, may rason yan. Ako, if the time will come, I’m going to have my own reasons rin if I’m going to announce it or not. We will never know. It’s a big issue rin yan for a player who played for so many years, then all of a sudden, mawawala ka na sa basketball. Iba ang feeling niyan. Emotionally, mentally, apektado yan. The fans will never know how hard it is, emotionally, mentally, na matagal na naglalaro then all of a sudden, mawawala na siya. Let’s give it to the players na ayaw mag-retire or mag-announce.”
Technically speaking, Tenorio remains active and can enlist himself as part of the roster of the Hotshots for the league’s 50th season, which will make him the latest playing coach in the PBA.
Similarly, Barroca knows the feeling of how tough it is for a player to accept a new chapter of his life once he steps out of the game.
“Siguro baka gusto pa nila bumalik or baka hindi pa handa,” said Barroca. “Mahirap kasi para sa isang player. Ako nga, iniisip ko at pinagdadasal ko, ‘Lord ikaw na po ang bahala’, kasi parang ayaw kong huminto yung basketball para sa akin. Ang hirap eh, high school, college hanggang sa pro, dito ka na nakilala. Ang hirap kung mawawala sa iyo ang isang bagay na nakasanayan mo.”
Unlike Yap, Marc Pingris and Peter June Simon, two of his former teammates in that fabled 2014 grand slam team, had announced their retirement and were feted by the franchise by having their jersey numbers retired a few years ago.
But Barroca shared that Simon told him stories of how tough it was to accept that he’s no longer playing in the PBA.
“Kinamusta ko siya after retirement ang sabi niya sa akin, ‘Pards, ang hirap. Nananaginip pa ako na nasa PBA pa ako.’ Kaya nga ako, ini-imagine ko na parang ang hirap. Ano na kaya mangyayari sa akin afetr that kasi mga ilang years na lang naman ako na maglalaro sa PBA,” added Barroca, who is chasing Tenorio’s record of 744 consecutive games as the all-time leader of active streak played.
To date, Barroca has a total of 612 consecutive games played.
