Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said the jersey retirement of Gabe Norwood on Friday is a well-deserved honor for the player who is synonymous to the franchise.

Norwood played all his 17 years in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with the Elasto Painters, and his jersey No. 5 was retired by the ballclub on Friday.

“Appropriate recognition and honor for Gabe Norwood,” said Guiao.

Norwood was drafted No. 1 overall by Rain or Shine in 2008 after his stint with George Mason University in the NCAA. He won two championships with the Elasto Painters during the 2012 Governors' Cup and the 2016 Commissioner's Cup.

It was also during his stay with Rain or Shine that he played for Gilas Pilipinas and played in various international tournaments including the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

“The history of Rain or Shine would be like Norwood era and post-Norwood era. That's the story of the Rain or Shine franchise,” said Guiao in Filipino.

“It became a marker of the story of the franchise of Rain or Shine. Appropriately, we really need to give him the recognition and honor not just because he is a great basketball player but also a great human being,” Guiao added.