From now on, no TNT player can wear Ranidel de Ocampo's jersey No. 33 after it was retired by the team Friday, Jan. 9.
Call Ranidel de Ocampo a TNT legend.
The proud franchise formalized that with a brief ceremony retiring De Ocampo’s No. 33 jersey during halftime of the TNT-Meralco PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Game 3 semifinal match Friday, Jan. 9.
[RELATED STORY: LIST: Ranidel de Ocampo’s best moments with TNT]
Now an assistant coach with the same team, De Ocampo received the framed jersey at center court with his family as an appreciative crowd applauded him at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“Suwerte po at bihira lang ang nabibigyan ng ganitong recognition,” said De Ocampo in his short speech.
“Sobrang proud ako at na-recognize ang pangalan ko rito at na-retire ang jersey ko dito sa Talk ’N Text.”
Ranidel de Ocampo during his jersey retirement ceremony | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
De Ocampo became only the third TNT player whose jersey was retired after former teammates Jimmy Alapag and Harvey Carey.
RDO played for TNT from 2008 to 2017, winning six championships and two Finals Most Valuable Player awards.
The former Best Player of the Conference also made the Mythical First Team three times.
His greatness extended to the national team as he helped Gilas return to the FIBA World Cup in 2014 in Spain. He was also part of the squad that wound up with a silver in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championships.
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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.