Peek thought of retirement after being shot

Talk 'N Text's man mountain Ali Peek almost walked away from the game he loves most when his life was hanging by a thread three months ago. "I thought of retiring after I was shot," the 6-foot-4 power forward admitted for the first time since that fateful night November 7, 2011, when he was shot in the nape by a lone gunman at the parking area of the RFM gym. The gunman was never caught and the bullet meant to kill him remained lodged at the back of his skull since removing it requires a very sensitive procedure. Peek, the warrior that he is, had a change of heart as he began to miss the hardcourt two weeks after the incident. "I felt the itch again after a few weeks," he said. Besides, the robust player born in Hawaii doesn't want to let his team down after they stood by him in the most trying time in his life. "It's not trying to prove anything. I just don't want to let my team down. If it's anything else, it's my way of giving back to them as they had been there when I was down,” added Peek, who turns 37 on February 13. After two months of recuperating, Peek eventually was given the go-signal to play again, and eventually, had a key role in Talk 'N Text's successful defense of the PBA Philippine Cup championship at Powerade's expense. The Tropang Texters disposed the Tigers in five games of the Finals, becoming the first team since Great Taste in 1984-85 to win back-to-back the All-Filipino titles. "This championship feels great. Winning back-to-back is even sweeter," he said. — JVP/KG, GMA News