Asi Taulava continued his climb in the record books after officially playing his 22nd PBA season during NLEX’s victory over Terrafirma Saturday, Dec. 18.
Coach Yeng Guiao inserted Taulava for the final two minutes of the Road Warriors’ 116-86 win over the Dyip at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, even hitting a three shortly before entering the floor.
The 48-year-old also had two rebounds in his short appearance to complete the win that gave NLEX a 4-0 start in the Governors’ Cup.
“We’re happy for Asi, actually,” said Guiao, who didn’t get a chance to use the legendary center in the previous three games. “I was just looking for the opportunity to bring him into the game and this is one of the opportunities.
Taulava broke his tie with Abet Guidaben, one of the league’s pioneers who played from 1975 to 1995, while moving season shy of tying the current mark being held by Robert Jaworski.
Jaworski, however, didn’t play during his final season in 1998, focusing instead on coaching Ginebra San Miguel while also winning a senate seat in the national elections.
The 2003 PBA Most Valuable Player and multi-time national team mainstay didn’t play in the Philippine Cup but Guiao said Taulava kept himself in shape even when he was not with the team.
But there has been speculations if this season will be Taulava’s last, and Guiao wants nothing to give him a proper sendoff in the event he makes that decision.
“Asi is still practicing hard and he's still giving our younger guys a run for their money. Kita mo rin 'yung katawan ni Asi, hindi siya tumaba — actually lalo pang pumayat, parang mas kundisyon pa nga siya ngayon.
“But we're also trying to give him the respect that he deserves. All the years that he's been an iconic personality in the PBA. Siguro it's just a way to appreciate what he has done for the franchise, for the Filipino fans.
“And hindi pa naman tapos e, we will still be looking for opportunities to play him so the fans can have a treat just watching Asi maybe in a few more games,” Guiao concluded.