JONAS TERRADO
Doug Kramer will play his final PBA game on Friday when Phoenix Pulse takes on Blackwater at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kramer made the announcement through social media, though he didn’t explain in details as to why he decided to hang it up after 12 professional seasons with seven teams.
“Last practice before my final game tomorrow in the PBA,” Kramer said after posting a photo with his Phoenix teammates after Thursday’s practice at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Ortigas. “Yes. I’m retiring after 12 years in the pros.
“I’ll explain in depth soon why I’m hanging it up. And no, it’s not injuries, I’m healthy as ever! So blessed to be able to enjoy this game dating back 17 years ago in Ateneo as a Blue Eagle.
“There’s still so much to do, I’m 36 years young and got so much to prove and make an impact outside of basketball,” he added. “To my brothers in the PBA, and my brothers in the Phoenix Fuel Masters, it’s this brotherhood I’ll miss.”
Kramer is well-remembered in college for hitting a buzzer-beating layup for Ateneo against University of Santo Tomas in Game 1 of the 2006 UAAP Finals. The Blue Eagles went on to lose the series in three games.
He was drafted fifth overall by Air21 in the 2007 PBA Draft before played for Barangay Ginebra from 2009 to 2010.
Kramer had a brief second stint with Air21 in 2010, suited up for Rain or Shine in 2011 and was part of Powerade’s memorable run in 2012 where the Tigers reached the Philippine Cup Finals despite being the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
He played for Barako Bull, Petron Blaze/San Miguel Beer, GlobalPort before joining Phoenix in 2016.
The 6-foot-5 forward was sidelined in late-2016 due to a mild stroke but was able to resume his career after several months.
