A special place for Norwood

No other player has served the national team more than Gabe Norwood, the versatile veteran player of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He has played for the Philippine squad since 2007 coming out of college playing for George Mason University.

For about a decade, the 6- foot- 5 Norwood has served the country, playing for the FIBA Asia Championship, competing in the Philippine’s return to the world stage, representing the squad in the Asian Games and serving as the captain to the last Gilas Pilipinas squad he played for in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year.

Many people thought we’ve already seen the last of the player capable of playing 1,2, 3 and 4 spots as he was not included in the Gilas team which played in the SEABA Championship a few months back.

He wasn’t even considered either to see action for the teams assembled to compete in the William Jones Cup and the Southeast Asian Games.

So when his name was included in the 24-man roster submitted by Gilas Pilipinas to the organizers of the FIBA Asia Cup over the weekend, many people were surprised. Norwood was told by his long-time coach Chot Reyes that he might be tapped anytime soon, but it’s still uncertain when will it be. Aside from the FIBA Asia Cup, the Philippines is also playing in the six-window home and away tournament and Norwood’s experience playing in elite international competitions is essential.

Norwood is not the player you’re bringing in just to produce the points. He’s more about providing intangibles, things that you don’t see on stats sheet. He’s been one of the Philippine team’s stopper and we’ve seen that in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and the 2014 World Cup.

Looking back as early as his collegiate days in George Mason, he was even tasked to shadow Rudy Gay, now an NBA star.

His athleticism is hardly found among any players who suited up the Philippine team jersey and in the Philippines’ return to the world stage three years ago, his highlight reels were among the best showcased during the event.

Who could forget that in-your-face dunk he threw down against NBA center Luis Scola of Argentina?

So Norwood wouldn’t mind representing the Philippines one more time, especially at the latter stretch of his playing career. For the many-time All-Defensive member of the PBA, playing for the country will always be an honor.

For coaches past and present, a player like Norwood will always have a special spot in the national team.

REY JOBLE has been a sportswriter for 19 years, and has been covering the PBA games for more than a decade. He is a member of the PBA Press Corps and Philippine Sportswriters Association, the oldest journalism group in the country. reyjoble09@gmail.com