PJ Simon announces retirement from PBA

PJ Simon has announced his retirement from the PBA.

In an Instagram post, the Magnolia Hotshots guard penned an emotional message saying goodbye to the league.

Simon, 40, said he felt it was the right time to hang up his sneakers after his father's death amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Hindi ko inakalang posible pala para sa isang payat at maliit na bata mula sa Makilala, North Cotabato na makarating sa PBA," he wrote. "Hindi ko rin inakala na pagkatapos hindi mapansin nung 2001 PBA Rookie Draft na posible pa pala mag-iwan ng sarili kong marka sa liga."

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hindi ko inakalang posible pala para sa isang payat at maliit na bata mula sa Makilala, North Cotabato na makarating sa PBA. Hindi ko rin inakala na pagkatapos hindi mapansin nung 2001 PBA Rookie Draft na posible pa pala mag-iwan ng sarili kong marka sa liga. Nakakalungkot man pero ito na siguro yung tamang panahon para magpaalam sa liga. Kinailangan kong umuwi ng Davao nung nagkasakit at namatay ang father ko at nahirapan na rin akong makabalik dahil sa pandemya. Sign na rin siguro yun na ito na yung tamang time para magretiro. Binigay ko yung 17 years ng buhay ko sa PBA, sa Magnolia Hotshots, at sa lahat ng fans but now it’s time to focus on my family. My wife is pregnant and gusto ko magkasama kami as we start a family. Sobra-sobra ang mga biyayang natanggap ko sa buhay ko especially sa aking PBA career at pinapasalamatan ko ng buong puso ang Panginoon. Naging sandalan ko ang Diyos sa bawat desisyon na aking tinatahak at pinapalangin ko na lagi akong gabayan ng Panginoon sa aking paglalakbay. Nagpapasalamat din ako kay Boss RSA na nagbigay ng oportunidad sa akin sa larangan ng basketball at negosyo, sa lahat ng naging coach at naging teammates ko sa loob ng 17 years sa paglalaro ko sa liga, sa mga support staff and management side, sa buong PBA, sa Magnolia franchise, at sa lahat ng fans na walang sawang sumuporta sa akin. Umaasa ako na magkikita-kita tayo sa panahon na iretiro ang aking numero. This is PJ Simon, The SuperSub, Your Scoring Apostle, signing out.

A post shared by Peter June Simon (@pjs08) on

Sep 22, 2020 at 10:55pm PDT

"The Scoring Apostle" said he was grateful for all the blessings he received during his career, but he is now looking forward to the new chapter of his life.

"Binigay ko yung 17 years ng buhay ko sa PBA, sa Magnolia Hotshots, at sa lahat ng fans but now it's time to focus on my family. My wife is pregnant and gusto ko magkasama kami as we start a family," he said.

Simon is married to Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2018 Jehza Huelar.

He spent his entire PBA career with the Magnolia franchise, which he helped win eight championships, including the Grand Slam in 2014.

An eight-time all-star, the shooting guard won the all-star Most Valuable Player award in 2008.

He thanked the Magnolia franchise, his coaches and teammates, as well as the fans for supporting him throughout his career.

"Umaasa ako na magkikita-kita tayo sa panahon na iretiro ang aking numero," he said. "This is PJ Simon, The SuperSub, Your Scoring Apostle, signing out." —MGP, GMA News