MANILA – Alaska Aces’ big man Joachim “Sonny” Thoss and Magnolia Hotshots’ guard Peter June Simon are set to play their final conference in the 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, which is currently on a halt due to the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in the country.
Thoss and Simon are calling it quits after the All-Filipino competition. The former is now 38 years old, while the latter is going to celebrate his 40th in June.
Thos said that he decided to be on the farewell tour as he feels that he is becoming a liability rather than an asset to the only team he committed his services to since he was selected fifth overall during the 2004 PBA draft.
“Yes, it is official. Body’s already breaking down, I’m starting to slow down,” Thoss said. “No regrets. I enjoyed every bit of it, ups and downs in between, and it’s been a more than expected career.”
“I feel like I’m more of a liability on the floor than an asset. I don’t want to put that on the team and hurt the team even more. I read my body and that’s what it’s telling me. That’s what made me make that final decision,” he added.
Simon, for his part, said that he decided to hang his jersey as he thinks that it is the perfect time to do so even though he is still good to ball for another couple of years.
“Nakakalungkot dahil parang feeling ko, gusto ko pa, kaya ko pa. Pero sa tingin ko, eto na ‘yung time,” Simon said. “Marami kaming guards. Ang gagaling nilang lahat. Kaya ko rin naisip na ito na ‘yung time nila.”
Simon added: “Para magkaroon naman ako ng time makapahinga naman. Mahirap kasi iwanan kasi sobrang mahal mo ‘yung basketball. First love ko talaga ang basketball. ‘Yun ang routine ko everyday.”
The Aces and the Hotshots managements are scheduled to retire the jerseys of Thoss and Simon, respectively, during one of their matches in the 2020 Philippine Cup/PN.
