KNOWING his body fully well, NLEX Road Warriors guard Cyrus Baguio said it is timely for him to call it quits after 17 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) seasons.
According to the 40-year-old Baguio, his subpar showing the last few seasons were the turning point for him to halt his professional basketball career which was decorated with three championship rings.
“Acceptance lang,” Baguio said in an interview with The Huddle. “Hindi ko na rin kasi kaya ‘yung mahabang minutes. Nasubukan ‘yun during the previous conference pero di productive.”
“Nagtataka nga din ako kung bakit eh. Pinanood ko ‘yung mga games ko sabi ko ‘anong nangyari? Parang hindi ako makagalaw?’ Hindi na talaga sanay sa mahabang minutes,” he added.
Baguio started his PBA career after drafted as 14th overall by then Red Bull Barako and now Road Warriors head coach Joseller Guiao in the 2003 PBA Rookie Draft.
After winning a championship with Red Bull in 2005-2006 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, he was traded to Burger King Whoppers and later to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings before landing at Alaska Aces, where he won titles in 2010 and 2013.
After six seasons with the Aces, Baguio was dealt to Phoenix Fuel Masters and played with the team for a year, before being reunited with Guiao at the Road Warriors which acquired him in 2017.
In his 17-year PBA career, Baguio made the Mythical Second Team twice; he was the 2008 Most Improved Player; the 2010 Samboy Lim Sportsmanship awardee; won the slam dunk title in 2004; and was an All-Star 11 times.
Before jumping to the PBA, Baguio was a former standout of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers under legendary head coach Aric del Rosario in the UAAP.
In the national men’s basketball scene, Baguio represented the Team Philippines once during the 2009 FIBA Asian Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China under Guiao./PN
