Gabe Norwood played like he had an added spring on Saturday, two days after the Rain or Shine lifer announced that the PBA Philippine Cup would be his last.
‘It’s the first game of the year, everybody should be fresh, right?’ Norwood insisted after his tip-in with a second left in regulation eventually helped the Elasto Painters come up with a 96-95 overtime victory over the Meralco Bolts at Ynares Center II here. His decision, which he revealed on the team’s social media, made his tying basket even more memorable, prompting some, including coach Yeng Guiao, to wonder if the 40-year-old can reconsider.
The tip was reminiscent of his game-winner back in 2008 as a high-profiled rookie that beat San Miguel Beer, though Norwood had to use his left hand while also leaning on his youth and athleticism.
This time, Norwood thought he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. He wasn’t after the fact.
‘It was just crazy,’ he said. ‘We didn’t rebound the ball well all night, and just wanted to get in there, try to make a play. Honestly I thought I jumped the opposite direction, I thought I jumped out of the play and I just tried to tip it, tried to put it up on the backboard, hoping somebody was running behind, and it just fell into the basket.
‘We got lucky. We got down and got a stop later and figured it out in overtime,’ Norwood added after finishing with 11 points and three rebounds in almost 29 minutes on the hardwood.
The rest of the conference will serve as a Gabe Norwood Retirement Tour, if you will, and Norwood hopes to achieve something he, coach Yeng Guiao and the rest of the franchise had never done in its PBA participation.
‘Another chance at the All-Filipino. It’s rare that you get back-to-back chances, right?’ said Norwood. ‘Just wanted to try and get one more for the organization, for Coach Yeng his first all-Filipino, and for myself as well. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’
One of the teams that will Rain or Shine’s way is defending champion San Miguel, its opponent on Oct. 19 at the same venue. Following the Beermen are nine more elimination round games, then the playoffs, if the Elasto Painters do meet their expected destination.
Whether Rain or Shine meets its end goal or not, expect Norwood to shed a tear or two once he dons the famous No. 5 jersey for the final time to close out an 18-year career that brought him plenty of opportunities in his basketball life. ‘I mean it’s gonna be emotional for a while, man,’ Norwood said. ‘The PBA has given me a lot. I grew up here. I came out 21, 22 years old, and I’m 40 now, lived most of my adult life here in the PBA.
‘I’m gonna cherish every game and try to leave on a high note.’