Larry Fonacier formally retires, but stays with NLEX as team manager

Larry Fonacier has decided to call it a career as the decorated cager formally retired from pro basketball by bidding NLEX goodbye in the PBA.

But Fonacier won't be leaving the game just yet as he was announced to take on the team manager role for the Road Warriors.

From 2020 to 2022, Fonacier missed three conferences after not suiting up in the 2020 and 2021 Philippine Cup editions and Season 46 Governors' Cup last year due to personal reasons. But he was reactivated at the start of the 47th Season to make a return to the big stage. 

His contract, though, reached its end just last December 31. 

Dubbed the Baby-Faced Assassin, Fonacier is a holder of seven PBA titles since being drafted 14th overall by Red Bull Barako in 2005. The former Ateneo star was also the PBA Rookie of the Year before he went on to earn a Finals MVP plum in the 2011-2012 Philippine Cup with TNT franchise. 

Fonacier is also a former stalwart for Gilas Pilipinas and was part of the national team that earned the country a ticket to the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News