MANILA – Veteran center Jay-R Reyes has put an end to his 14-year Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career that was marked with four championships and a championship run with the Gilas Pilipinas.
In a social media post over the weekend, the 6-foot-7 center announced his retirement after not receiving a contract renewal from the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
“20 years, 10 teams, 1 love,” the 36-year-old Reyes said. “It has been a truly blessing to be able to devote more than half of my life to my first love. Now, I am officially announcing my retirement from basketball.”
Reyes started to play basketball with the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Squires in National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors before recruited by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
He was among the players who were automatically elevated from the amateur ranks by the Welcoat Dragons (now Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) when it entered the league in 2006.
Reyes was most successful as a PBA player during his five-year stint with the Dragons where he made the PBA All-Rookie Team, a PBA All-Star, and a member of the Mythical Second Team.
He had stints with the Air21 Express, Alaska Aces, and Meralco Bolts. He was tapped by then Gilas Pilipinas head coach Vincent Reyes to be part of the national team that competed and won the 2012 William Jones Cup in Taiwan.
He then moved to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and to the San Miguel Beermen, where he won all of his four PBA championships. He capped off his career with Columbian Dyip and Fuel Masters.
Reyes expressed his gratitude to all who supported him throughout his basketball journey.
“[I’m] excited for what God has in store for me and my family in the coming seasons. I may be turning over my jersey, but my love for the ball will always be in my heart. Jayr Reyes, signing off,” he said./PN
