After 17 years in the PBA, Gabe Norwood will be calling it a career once the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup ends.
Good things must come to an end. And for Rain or Shine stalwart Gabe Norwood, the twilight of his PBA career is here after announcing his impending retirement in a social media post on Thursday morning.
Norwood, 40, has played all his seasons in the PBA with the Elasto Painters.
Now, as a two-time PBA champion and an 11-time PBA All-Star, he knows it’s time to call it a career professionally.
“Basketball has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember — from playing Division 1 basketball in George Mason University to proudly wearing the Pilipinas jersey with Gilas, and to finding a home with Rain or Shine in the PBA,” Norwood said in a voiceover on his social media post.
“The journey has been nothing short of incredible, I poured everything I have everything into this game and in return, it has given me more than I could ever ask for.”
Norwood has also entered into a new role with Rain or Shine as an assistant coach in the past year.
Norwood’s career highlights also include being named PBA Rookie of the Year in 2009. He was also hailed PBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, and the MVP in the PBA All-Star Game in that same year.
In the national team, Norwood is a two-time silver medalist in the FIBA Asia Championship, a SEA Games gold medalist in 2007, and a champion in the William Jones Cup back in 2012.
Professionally, he’ll be back for one more run with the Elastopainters before hanging up his jersey for good.
“That’s why today, I wanna share with you all, that this upcoming Philippine Cup will be my last. One last conference, one last run, one last flight,” he said.
Rain or Shine opens its conference on Saturday, October 11, at the Ynares Center in Montalban against the Meralco Bolts.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.