MANILA – Meralco Bolts forward Ranidel de Ocampo of the Philippine Basketball Association says it’s time to hang his jersey after 15 years.
The 38-year-old de Ocampo revealed his farewell to the league in an interview with ESPN5’s anchors Carlo Pamintuan and Magoo Marjon during the 2OT podcast yesterday afternoon.
“Paalam na sa basketball. Talagang naging buhay ko na ang basketball simula nung 14 years old ako. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord na binigyan niya ko ng magandang career. Siguro time na matapos na ‘yung pagiging player,” said de Ocampo.
“Ibang landas naman tatahakin natin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat,” the forward added.
He was the fourth pick of the 2004 PBA Rookie Draft out of St. Francis of Assisi.
De Ocampo said that one of his reasons to call his basketball career quits was due to his health.
“I’m already banged up. I always get injured. This is probably the time to take a break from basketball,” he said.
De Ocampo was sidelined for the most parts of the 2019-2020 PBA season because of back spasms. Prior to that, he sustained a torn calf muscle, which deprived him playing minutes during the 2018 PBA Philippine Cup, and then suffered a mild Achilles tear in the Commissioner’s Cup.
In his 15 years in the league, de Ocampo has played for three teams, which were the FedEx Express/Air21 Express, Talk ‘N Text (TNT) KaTropa and the Bolts.
His most memorable moments were with TNT, where he won six PBA titles, two Finals Most Valuable Player trophies and a Best Player of the Conference plum.
He also donned the country’s colors several times as part of coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes’ Gilas Pilipinas squad. He was most remembered for his clutch shots against South Korea during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship here where they won the silver medal.
During his international stint, de Ocampo was also included in the Gilas team that represented the country in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain. He made history as part of the team that captured its first ever win in the world’s biggest basketball tournament after 40 years when they defeated Senegal./PN
