Team Ageless

When Asi Taulava first went to the ASEAN Basketball League in what many thought would be his "swan song" after two unimpressive seasons in the PBA with the Meralco Bolts, it was met with nary a whimper. There he was, a former PBA Most Valuable Player, probably looking for one last paycheck and maybe to cash in on his name/brand.

There's nothing wrong or shameful about it, business is business. Some guys are able to quit when they are ahead, others, keep on pushing until either their minds or bodies break. At the end of the day, these men (old, injury-riddled or in-denial) are just that, men-- men who need to provide for themselves and their loved ones. What good is looking back in a once illustrious career if you can't enjoy the fruit of your labors all the way to retirement?

So when his handlers coined "Team Ageless," we were part of the many who dismissed it and just said: "best of luck to you Asi, for all the years playing for flag and country and just being an all-around good guy despite your larger-than-life size, thank you."

One ASEAN Basketball League season, championship and Most Valuable Player later, we were all proven wrong.
Not only did Taulava look like the gargantuan, blonde-monster of old, but he was able to make a case for another run in the PBA with the Air21 Express.

Early on, there were rumors about Taulava being shipped at some point to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel but the way things are going now-- the 2003 PBA MVP has pretty much become the "heart and soul" of his young Express squad.

In the on-going PBA Philippine Cup, Taulava is averaging a mighty 15.74 ppg and 11.74 rpg-- at par with the dominant young forward/ centers of today's generation: Junemar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter.

While the Express are still languishing at the bottom of the standings, it's by no means Taulava's fault. If anything, the lack of a quality point guard is doing the Express in and is a need that should be addressed sooner rather than later.

So to Taulava we say SORRY for ever doubting Team Ageless, more power and pray that the ride never ends for one of Philippine basketball's best and brightest towers.