By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine has signed veteran forward Gabe Norwood to a one-year deal as playing assistant coach in an effort to ensure the continuity of the team’s development following a surprising semifinals run in the 2024 Philippine Cup.
The team made the announcement on Thursday, May 30 with Norwood signing the deal alongside ROS governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon and head coach Yeng Guiao’s lead assistant Caloy Garcia.
The move was still part of Guiao’s vision of further honing the young core of the team.
He earlier expressed his plans to keep both Norwood and veteran Beau Belga to help in the transfer of knowledge and guide the team’s young crop of talents – which also explains the move to put him as part of the team’s coaching staff
“We have to keep Gabe and Beau so that they can also help us mold the team sila yung veteran leaders namin,” said Guiao in an earlier interview.
Now on his 16th year as part of the Terry Que and Raymond Yu-owned franchise which drafted him No.1 overall in the 2008 draft, the 39-year-old forward remained a serviceable defender although he was being relied more on providing the veteran presence for the team.
He should also continue to take the team’s young two-way players like Gian Mamuyac, Jhonard Clarito, Shaun Ildefonso, Santi Santillan under his wings.
Norwood joined San Miguel Beer’s Chris Ross as the only playing assistant coaches so far in the league.
