Tim Cone says Mark Caguioa ' quietly retiring' from PBA

Coach Tim Cone believes Mark Caguioa is retiring from the PBA. Mike Romero (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—At least in Tim Cone's understanding, Joe Devance is not the only one retiring from the PBA just before the start of the new season.

The Ginebra head coach claimed on Thursday that Mark Caguioa, the current face of the franchise, is low-key calling it a career.

"From what I understand, Mark has quietly decided to retire. He didn't want any fanfare. He didn't wanna have a retirement ceremony," Cone said during the PBA Season 47 Media Day at the Novotel Ballroom. "He's no longer attending practices, and I don't think he's under contract at this point anymore."

Pending a confirmation from Caguioa himself, the third overall pick of the 2001 draft is set to hang his basketball kit after 18 seasons, all with Ginebra.

Like Devance, Caguioa is leaving professional basketball as a champ as he was in the Gin Kings lineup that won the 2020 bubble season title.

Caguioa completely missed PBA Season 46 as he was not inserted during the 2021 Philippine Cup and was left off the roster in the 2022 Governors' Cup.

While Caguioa has yet to formally call it quits, Cone said they still intend the 2012 Most Valuable Player, who is turning 43 this November, a special sendoff ceremony.

"That's something in the future. Maybe we can get him and Jayjay [Helterbrand] together and do something special," Cone bared what Caguioa's retirement event would like.

Caguioa has averaged 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.1 blocks a game throughout his PBA career, which spanned 744 games.

He is the 16th and so far the most recent player to breach the 10,000-point mark in his career.

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