MANGROBANG SUFFERS INJURY
Right now, he’s a free agent and any team can acquire him for that matter
It looks like the PJ Simon era in Magnolia is finally over.
Hotshots coach Chito Victolero yesterday confirmed that they already dropped Simon, putting an end to a 15-year career that is regarded as one of the feel-good stories in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
Victolero said Simon has not been reporting for practice, prompting them to leave him in the free agency that would make him available for other teams.
Multiple sources claimed that Simon has yet to communicate with the Magnolia management following the death of his father on 2 September.
“Right now, he’s a free agent and any team can acquire him for that matter,” Victolero said.
“He is not going to join us in the bubble and I want him to be the one to announce what his decision will be moving forward.”
The 40-year-old Simon is one of the league’s success stories.
After a stellar career in the Metropolitan Basketball Association and the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), Simon entered the PBA as the 43rd overall pick of the disbanded Sta. Lucia Realty in the 2001 Rookie Draft, way below the top three picks in Willie Miller, Mike Hrabak and Mark Caguioa.
So if everything gets back to normal, we will prepare something for him.
His first three years didn’t pan out as expected until the Purefoods franchise picked him up three years later to play behind superstar James Yap, where he emerged as an eight-time champion and an eight-time All-Star.
Simon told Daily Tribune in February that the Philippine Cup would be his last conference, but it seems that the plan would come earlier than scheduled as the Hotshots dropped him from the roster.
Still, Victolero said they are looking forward to clear things up with Simon, who played his entire 17-year career with the franchise.
“We are really planning to give PJ a proper send-off because this team will not be where it is today if not for his talent and skills,” he said.
“So if everything gets back to normal, we will prepare something for him.”
Victolero said there no sense of urgency to look for Simon’s replacement.
After all, they still have enough firepower in the backcourt with Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Jio Jalalon, Chris Banchero and Justin Melton in the rotation.