The Final Score: Marlou Aquino - saga of The Skyscraper

“Karamihan ng mga lumalapit sa akin, ang tanong ‘Idol naglalaro ka pa ba?’" – Marlou Aquino Just like any other night in the PBA, Marlou Aquino stays on the bench. Even camped on his chair, for what turns out to be the duration of the tournament, it’s easy to know Marlou, now 38, was once great. In the season finale of Meralco last July 20, Marlou starts and finishes the conference the same way: without breaking a sweat. “Nalulungkot din ako dahil patapos na yung career ko," Marlou, the 1996 PBA Rookie of the Year, says.“Ganun talaga, habang tumatanda, bumababa din career natin. Minsan mahirap tanggapin. Pero ganun talaga ang reality ng isang basketball player." In possibly Marlou Aquino’s final conference in the PBA, he didn’t play a single game, wasn’t given a chance to make one point or grab one rebound. And the crime of all crimes; he wasn’t allowed to take even one “kili-kili shot". That last one is depressing. Because the one thing Marlou can still do, even in the twilight of his career, is entertain. People still cheer when Marlou blocks a shot. The man is still a star. “I think he could have achieved more milestones," Richard Del Rosario, who played alongside Marlou Aquino when Sta. Lucia won its first PBA championship in 2001, believes. “If he played the way he could really play." For every person Marlou entertains, there’s a person Marlou disappoints. Kung may nasasayahan, meron din nasasayangan. They say Marlou could’ve changed the game like no one else. Could he have been a 6’9" Alvin Patrimonio? Who knows? He had skills, fan support and charisma. Yet in the final chapters of his career, he’s stuck on the bench thinking, “May kukuha pa kaya sa akin?" “Kutob ko hindi pa ako tapos," Marlou, who might end up playing for next season’s 10th PBA team, says. “Siyempre as a player, nag-iisip ka din kung papano mo gusto tapusin career mo and sa ngayon may mga gusto pa ako gawin." Is Marlou more of a professional for clinging on? Is he less of a realist for trying to extend his career? He’s a three-time champion, four-time all-defensive team member and two-time mythical first team member. Yet some still consider him the poster boy for underachievement. Did he underachieve or did we over-expect? “His lay to claim might be this; that at 6’9", he was the first skilled 6’9" big man the PBA ever saw," Jason Webb, who played alongside Marlou in the PBL and PBA, suggests. I’m not sure if Marlou suited up for his last PBA game. Like most fans, I wish Marlou retires with MVP awards and a legacy for working harder than anyone else. It won’t happen. Yet Marlou still has a legacy. It’s just not the one people expected him to have. “I’m proud of my career," Marlou says. “Naka ilang national team din ako. Naka ilang championships din. 15 years! Wala naman akong regrets although sana hindi na lang tumatanda ang player (laughs)." -- GMA News