PBA: Rain or Shine officially retires Gabe Norwood’s No. 5 Jersey

Rain or Shine formally retired Gabe Norwood’s No. 5 jersey during halftime of the Elasto Painters’ game against Converge in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Norwood spent his entire PBA career with Rain or Shine from 2008 to 2025 where he won two championships: the Governors’ Cup title in 2012 and the Commissioner’s Cup crown in 2016.

Over his decorated career, he was named an 11-time PBA All-Star, earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010, and was crowned Rookie of the Year in 2009.

Norwood announced his retirement in October 2025 and played his final game on December 29 of the same year.

"I hope I brought joy and excitement to your lives when you were tuning in to watch, I pray that I carried myself in a way that was honorable to represent the country," Norwood said in a short speech.

For Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, the jersey retirement is a fitting tribute to one of the franchise’s most influential figures.

“Just [an] appropriate recognition and honor for Gabe Norwood. Ang history ng Rain or Shine would be parang Norwood era and Post-Norwood era, parang ganon ang kuwento ng Rain or Shine ngayon,” Guiao said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“Naging marker siya ng kuwento ng franchise ng Rain or Shine and appropriately, kailangan talagang bigyan siya ng recognition and honor not just because he’s a great basketball player, but because he’s a great human being.”

Beyond his PBA career, Norwood was also a key fixture for Gilas Pilipinas from 2007 to 2019, serving as team captain in his later years.

He was part of the Philippine squad that bagged the silver in the 2013 and 2015 FIBA Asia Championships. Notably, the 2013 campaign secured the country a berth in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, where Norwood delivered a memorable dunk over Argentine star Luis Scola.

READ MORE | 'I'm from the Philippines: Gabe Norwood on his basketball journey'

—JKC, GMA News