Gabe Norwood announced he is retiring from the PBA at the end of the Season 50 Philippine Cup. To celebrate his decorated career, One Sports looks back at some of the highlights of his PBA journey that began in 2008.
Gabe Norwood probably reached the pinnacle of his fame when he posterized then NBA standout Luis Scola in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.
That play saw Norwood trailing Jayson Castro in a 3-on-2 transition play with still over three minutes left in the first quarter.
After Castro passed him the rock on the three-point line, he knew exactly what to do and did: take one dribble before soaring for an emphatic flush against the Argentine star.
[RELATED STORY: One Last Flight: ROS’ Gabe Norwood announces impending retirement after PBA Philippine Cup]
But there’s more to the 11-time PBA All-Star than jaw-dropping dunks like that.
In the PBA, the soft-spoken cager will be best remembered as two-time champion, a three-time Samboy Lim Sportsmanship award recipient, and Defensive Player of the Year, to name a few.
Now that he’s announced he is retiring at the end of the ongoing PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, let’s look back at the highlights of his journey that began in 2008.
Dual role at ROS
Before Season 49 unfurled, the then 39-year-old Norwood signed a one-year deal to become a playing assistant coach with the Elasto Painters.
Though he is at the tail-end of his career, the Rain or Shine coaching staff felt he still has a lot left in the tank and can help guide young stars like Gian Mamuyac and Adrian Nocum from the sidelines.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Gabe Norwood takes on new role as playing assistant coach of Rain or Shine]
Beast on defensive end
While he endeared himself to fans with his jaw-dropping dunks, Norwood is actually known more as a defensive lynchpin here in abroad.
He has the awards to back that up after being named to the PBA All-Defensive Team seven times, including six straight from 2013 to 2018.
But he formally introduced himself as that in 2010, when he won the Defensive Player of the Year at the end of the season that also saw him win the All-Star MVP.
[ALSO READ: PBA’s four-point shot: boon or bane?]
Last career milestone
It was a new year, new milestone for Norwood.
The 6-foot-6 forward achieved a career milestone five days into the year 2024 after he officially joined the 5,000-point club.
This happened after he scored the first four points for Rain or Shine in their 119-112 win over TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
[ALSO READ: ROS lifer Gabe Norwood joins PBA's 5k points club]
PBA champion
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 made an impact for RoS right away, bagging the Rookie of the Year.
But the championship didn’t come until years later when the Elasto Painters bagged their first championship in the 2012 Governors’ Cup.
Though he didn’t win Finals MVP, there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind Norwood was intrumental in that conquest.
He was only one of two players who won two championships with Rain or Shine. The other was Beau Belga.
Turning back the hands of time
When Rain or Shine shelved Caelan Tiongson, Keith Datu, and Belga, the Elasto Painters turned to the oldest cager on the bench: Norwood.
But the 40-year-old didn’t disappoint and proved he can still give the rest of the league's bigs a run for their money.
In 38 minutes of play, Norwood did Rain or Shine a solid after coming up with 12 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal in a 128-116 win over Meralco in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.
[ALSO READ: Norwood is 'Swiss Army knife' of RoS, says Yeng: 'He's able to give whatever you need’]
Peacemaker
When the infamous Philippine Arena brawl between some Gilas players and Australia broke out, Norwood made sure he wasn’t going to worsen the situation.
Along with Baser Amer and June Mar Fajardo, he played the peacekeeper role in a situation where he could have easily joined the fray.
It was the same in PBA, where he won the Samboy Lim Sportsmanship Award three straight times (2017-19).
Norwood may not have won multiple MVP awards or Best Player of the Conference plums, but he will definitely leave a legacy that will long endure in Philippine basketball.
[ALSO READ: PBA: Calvin Abueva feels like college player again after 41-point eruption for Titan Ultra]
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.