No more comeback for Duremdes; Powerade to retire his jersey

Kenneth Duremdes, one of the Philippine Basketball Association's (PBA) 25 greatest players of all time, formally hangs up his sneakers with Powerade retiring his jersey on March 23 in between the scheduled doubleheader in the Commissioner's Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. The 1998 league Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be honored by the Tigers, the last team that he played for, during their game against the Alaska Aces, ironically, the same squad where Duremdes enjoyed immense success in his 17-year pro career. The Air21 Express takes on the Meralco Bolts in the first game. Duremdes, before the start of the season, contemplated getting back in playing shape and suiting up for the last time for the Tigers. Apparently, the Tigers' recent resurgence forced him to drop his planned comeback and instead retired for good. "I decided not to pursue my comeback. Maganda ang takbo ng team at ayaw ko nang bulabugin pa," said Duremdes, who recently turned 38, in a radio interview. Duremdes, a 10-time All-Star, said not even a persuasion from good friend and current Powerade coach Bo Perasol would make him change his mind.   "Kahit siguro si coach Bo na ang mag-sabi na lumaro ako, ako na mismo ang mag-sasabi sa kanya na huwag na. Mas mainam na unahin na muna ang kapakanan ng team," added the pride of Marbel, Koronadal City. Coming out of Adamson University as a highly-touted forward, Duremdes was picked third by Sunkist (Powerade's forerunner) in the 1995 Rookie Draft. He spent three seasons with the Orange Juicers before being traded to Alaska for Dwight Lago and Bryant Punzalan. It was with the Aces and coach Tim Cone where Duremdes eventually blossomed to become one of the league's best ever forward. He won six championships with the Aces and was named the league MVP in the 1998 season. In 2000 when the PBA turned 25, he was named as one of the 25 Greatest Players in the history of Asia's first ever play-for-pay league. Three years later, Alaska stunned the league when it decided to part ways with Duremdes, trading him to Sta. Lucia, where he formed a formidable trio together with Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino. Unfortunately, injuries hounded Duremdes while with Sta. Lucia and after four fruitless seasons, the Realtors shipped him to Coca-Cola (Powerade). He played a full season with the Tigers until he was named head coach of the team replacing Binky Favis. Duremdes didn't have a successful coaching stint. In his first and only season with the team, he compiled a 14-21 (win-loss) record and only reached the playoffs just once. He was later replaced by Perasol, his assistant, after management promoted him as team manager, and later alternate governor. That Powerade beat Alaska to the draw in retiring his jersey, doesn't bother Duremdes at all. "Last time I attended the Alaska reunion, they said that they will retire the number 19," he said of the big Alaska reunion of former players and coaches when the franchise celebrated its 25th year anniversary in the PBA last year. "I'm okay with that. I’m not forcing them." But it would definitely be double the fun if and when the Aces decided to retire his jersey number simultaneously with the Powerade ceremony. "If Alaska decides to retire my jersey number 19 on March 23, it will be twice the fun," said Duremdes. "Siyempre, sa Alaska naman tayo nakilala. Malaking bagay sa akin yun." — JVP/KG, GMA News