GABE Norwood travelled back in time and played his best game in a Rain or Shine uniform in the last two seasons Sunday during the team’s runaway 128-116 rout of defending PBA Philippine Cup champion Meralco at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Norwood, 40, finished with 12 points as a starter for the injury-riddled Elasto Painters, who notched their second straight win for a 2-1 record.
The former Rookie of the Year and no. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft was 5-of-8 from the field and added five rebounds, an assist and a steal, while highlighting his 38 minutes of play with a one-handed dunk in the third quarter off a Jhonard Clarito assist that made it an 82-69 count for the Elasto Painters.
It was the best performance of Norwood since an 83-77 win by Rain or Shine over Terrafirma in the 2021 Philippine Cup.
Asked about him turning back the clock, the Fil-Am guard said it’s just a matter of taking care of his health and helping his team to victory despite parading a roster that was without big men Beau Belga (vertigo), Keith Datu (calf injury), and rookie Caelan Tiongson (back spasm).
“I just try to take care of my body, take care of myself, and get as much rest as I can,” he said.
“I just try to contribute. Coach (Yeng Guiao) trust me out there today, play more minutes than usual, and I have to reward him, I have to reward my teammates, and management for the trust that they put in to me. I just try to play to the best of my ability.”
As for that rare dunk, Norwood had a good laugh about it.
“It’s been a long time. Actually when I caught it, I didn’t know where I was, and I was like ‘I guess I have to dunk it now,” he said.
The 38 minutes of play was also the longest Norwood played in a long while with Rain or Shine, where he spent the entire 17 years of his career.
“Yeah, 38 (minutes) that’s closer to my age than I usually play,” he said, even drawing a smile from Guiao, who sat beside him during the post-game presser. “But it’s a blessing to still be able to go out there to the court and play the game that I love and have my family, my kids in the crowd and see me play well.”
