MANILA – Mark Caguioa is not yet fully locked in about retiring after this upcoming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season.
In fact, he even said on Thursday that he is not even sure yet.
"I still don't know if this would be my final year," the 40-year-old guard, who is set to play in his 19th PBA season, said during the preseason media day of the league at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom.
But he added that his end-of-the-season decision would depend on how he can still adapt to the game of basketball all season long.
"It really all depends on my body. I just don't wanna be here. I wanna be here and help the team at the same time," Caguioa said.
But if he is to ask, he would prefer playing for another year.
"For myself, gusto kong gawing 20 years. Parang achievement mo na sa sarili mo 'yun eh (I want to make it 20 years. It is like an achievement for yourself). After that, maybe I could call it quits," Caguioa continued.
Regardless of whether it would indeed be his swan song or not, Caguioa's 2020 campaign will be an interesting one as his team deals with the surprise absence of Greg Slaughter.
However, the six-foot guard said Ginebra got a bit lucky that the seven-foot center announced his hiatus, although still a surprising one, during the offseason, giving the team some time to tweak its plans.
"Kung mid-season 'yun, siguro maapektuhan lahat, pero now, buti naman at least makakapag-adjust kami ngayon, practicing na wala siya doon and para masanay kami na wala kaming malaki (If that happened during the mid-season, it will totally affect everything, but now, it is a good thing that at least we can adjust right now, practicing without him and so that we will be used to playing without a big man)," Caguioa quipped.
Ginebra will begin its campaign on March 14 against Blackwater at the Bataan People's Center in Balanga. (PNA)
