Only a few PBA players get to enjoy a 17-year career. Fewer still get the chance to play for only one team in their entire career.
At the cross-section of those two rarities is Gabe Norwood.
Drafted first overall by Rain or Shine in 2008, Norwood was one of three remaining from that batch who are still active entering PBA Season 50, with the other two being fellow unicorn Jayson Castro (in recovery), and teammate Beau Belga.
Norwood’s career is so unique especially in this era of the PBA, and that’s the reason why many have already posted their tributes to him as he played his last PBA game, during the last league game day of the year 2025.
[RELATED: Gabe Norwood reflects on PBA career, all with Rain or Shine: 'It’s special to me']
Compare Castro’s career with Norwood’s and you’d end up appreciating the latter’s loyalty even more.
The Blur, drafted third by TNT in 2008, has won 10 championships with that franchise. Norwood has won two. Eight titles in between. Eight longer playoff runs. Eight championship bonuses.
Rain or Shine has had its share of players who ultimately decided to part with the franchise and their reasons were varied.
Some wanted a bigger role, some wanted to chase more championships, some wanted to be with their favorite teams growing up.
Norwood could have done this at any point of his career and he could have chosen any of the many acceptable reasons for wanting to start over somewhere else.
But he didn’t. He stayed loyal to the team that took a chance on him as a cornerstone of their franchise with their number 1 pick.
He could have accepted a smaller role with another team. Maybe he could have chased the chance to be teammates with Castro or June Mar Fajardo or Justin Brownlee.
Those hypothetical choices could have brought him more championships, but he chose not to because the journey for him was as good as the destination.
Norwood learned from the veterans who came before him, and then imparted the knowledge that he has gained to the younger players who were lucky enough to call him a teammate.
Maybe part of Norwood sensing now is the right time to step away from Rain or Shine is that the team’s future looks bright.
The Elasto Painters have amassed a collection of young and talented players who will surely fight for a championship in the near future. Maybe Norwood feels that having him as a training wheel is slowing them down instead of allowing them to try and fill the void he’d leave behind, which will make them better players moving forward.
And if those young players continue growing together and follow the example set by Norwood, then a multiple championships will not be difficult to imagine even as coach Yeng Guiao admits it’s that more difficult for an independent team like them.
Even as he built his legacy with Rain or Shine, Norwood also never shied away from playing for the country. “Gilas Gabe” was a testament to how he raises his game even more when he was representing the Philippines.
@onesportsphl ‘IT’S AWESOME TO THINK THAT I LEFT SOME TYPE OF MARK; MY CAREER WASN’T IN VAIN, IT MEANS A LOT’ 🫡 After 17 years in the league, Rain or Shine veteran Gabe Norwood closed out 2025 with his final PBA game and reacted to Carlo Pamintuan’s commentary on his farewell appearance. | via Gillian Trinidad/One Sports #PBA50 #PBA50LID
? original sound - OneSportsPHL - OneSportsPHL
And this was where I first really got to know Gabe Norwood.
It was 2015 when I first got the chance to join Gilas Pilipinas as a correspondent. My task was to chronicle team’s journey and produce episodes of the “Kuwentong Gilas” documentary.
The biggest challenge initially was earning the team’s trust and Norwood’s willingness to be interviewed whenever needed showed his teammates that they should also be open to it.
Even more important than what happened in front of the camera was what happened behind it. After the team’s filming sessions, when there were certain things that I could not understand, Norwood was this safe space who I could ask. There was no judgement in my lack of knowledge.
There was always time to discuss.
It was also during these trips when I first saw how devoted Norwood was to his family. Even with the busy schedule of two practices along with gym, film, the team building sessions while Gilas was training abroad, he’d always check in with his wife and kids.
[RELATED: 'Family first' for now-retired Rain or Shine lifer Gabe Norwood]
Norwood’s family-centered values extended beyond his own unit.
Whenever there was a Filipino-American who would arrive in the Philippines to play in the PBA, Norwood and his fellow Fil-Am vets served as a de facto welcoming committee, giving the younger players guidance on how to survive their first few months in their new environment.
He’d take them in for Thanksgiving or even Christmas, because he knows how difficult it was to be alone during these times.
This is what’s going to be missed by the PBA as Norwood steps away.
One of genuine good guys. Norwood is tied with Rey Evangelista and Freddie Abuda with three Sportsmanship Awards in their careers, but no one would complain if Norwood won that award each and every year he spent in the PBA.
But now, it’s time for him to spend more time with his family and step away from the daily grind of being a professional basketball player.
However, we all know that Norwood still has a lot to offer to Philippine basketball.
He’s started his coaching career with Gilas Pilipinas Youth and has also dabbled with media and content creation, co-hosting the Let It Fly podcast.
Norwood will be a natural if he decided to be an analyst for the PBA with his eloquence and knowledge of the game.
Whichever direction basketball takes him now, success is still sure to follow as Norwood’s undeniable loyalty and love for the game will continue to shine through.