By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
One of the greatest big men to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will receive a fitting ending to his storied career.
Asi Taulava, a former PBA champion and a Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardee, will finally have one last dance after getting activated by the NLEX Road Warriors in their game against the TNT Tropang Giga today.
In line with his jersey retirement ceremony in the halftime period of the game, Taulava will also have the chance to break Robert Jaworski’s record for the most seasons played in the PBA.
Already holding the record as the oldest active player in the PBA at the age of 50 years old, the Fil-Tongan bruising center is ready to suit up on the hardwood if he gets called up by head coach Frankie Lim to play.
Despite the old age, Taulava is still included in the official roster of the Road Warriors after the management said that his veteran presence and locker room leadership still bring a huge help to the team.
The six-foot-ten center was a former PBA champion way back in 2003 while also winning the MVP award in the same season.
Taulava will go down as one of the most dominant centers to ever set foot in the PBA after clinching 17 PBA All-Star appearances, four Mythical first-team selections, and was a three-time PBA Defensive Player of the Year.
During Yeng Guiao’s stint with the Road Warriors as their former head coach, the savvy tactician tasked Taulava to be the team’s leader and was a vital piece to their playoff runs.
Aside from Taulava’s jersey retirement ceremony, the PBA fans are also looking forward to the debut of Robert Bolick wearing an NLEX uniform.
Two days ago, the PBA board headed by commissioner Willie Marcial already approved the three-team trade involving the NorthPort Batang Pier and the San Miguel Beermen that sent Bolick to the Road Warriors.
