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PBA: NLEX retires Asi Taulava's No. 88 jersey

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- NLEX officially retired Asi Taulava&#x27;s No. 88 jersey on Wednesday night at the halftime of their PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup game against TNT Tropang GIGA at the Philsports Arena.</p><p>The Road Warriors reactivated the 50-year-old big man for the game, allowing Taulava to eclipse Robert Jaworski&#x27;s record as the longest-tenured player in PBA history.</p><p>The 6-foot-9 Taulava even started for the Road Warriors and spent nearly two minutes on the floor.</p><p>&quot;PBA fans, thank you for supporting, thank you for supporting PBA throughout my 24-year career. It&#x27;s awesome,&quot; he said during the tribute that took place during the halftime.</p><p>Taulava was accompanied to the center court by his family, his former coaches including Rain or Shine&#x27;s Yeng Guiao, who was his commissioner in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League, and Dioceldo Sy who brought the Fil-Tongan to the Philippines through the Blu Detergent team. </p><p>Taulava, a 17-time PBA All Star and four-time Mythical Team member, was one of PBA&#x27;s best big men in the 2000.</p><p>He entered the league as a direct hire by the then-Mobiline Phone Pals.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images6.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images7.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images8.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images9.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images10.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/12/13/pba-images11.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Scenes from Asi Taulava&#x27;s jersey retirement during the halftime of NLEX&#x27;s game against TNT Tropang GIGA, December 13, 2023 at the PhilSports Arena. <cite>PBA Images.</cite></p></div></div></div>

NLEX officially retired Asi Taulava's No. 88 jersey on Wednesday night at the halftime of their game against Talk 'N Text at the Philsports Arena.

PBA: NLEX retires Asi Taulava's No. 88 jersey

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PBA: NLEX retires Asi Taulava's No. 88 jersey

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 13, 2023 10:06 PM PHT

|

Updated December 13, 2023 10:36 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

PBA

PBA Commissioner's Cup

NLEX Road Warriors

Asi Taulava

NLEX

TNT Tropang GIGA

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