Retiring Cariaso wants to go in style

MANILA, Philippines - Jeffrey Cariaso, a Fil-Am player who has carved a distinguished PBA career highlighted by a Rookie of the Year citation and three berths with the Mythical Five selection, announced yesterday his retirement at the end of the current PBA season.

His wish is to be given a chance to end his career on a bright note.

Cariaso is calling it quits at 38 after having played 15 PBA seasons also marked by a number of championships won with Alaska Milk and Coca-Cola.

The 6-foot-2 off-guard from Sonoma State U in Los Angeles, California also played five solid seasons with Mobiline and Tanduay in an illustrious pro career that had him earning career averages of 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.14 assists through last season.

Cariaso, a member of the RP team that narrowly missed the gold-medal game in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, is now on the reserve list, though, as he has requested after being kept on the bench by coach Tim Cone through their first six games in the current PBA Fiesta Conference.

“Let me just say that I feel this is for the betterment of the team and for the direction the team wants to go now,” said Cariaso.

“I didn’t play a single minute in our first six games this conference so I felt it was best for the team to ask coach Tim to put me on the reserve list. It was probably the hardest request I’ve ever asked for,” Cariaso added.

The old warrior, a core member of the Alaska grandslam-winning team in 1996, believes he deserves better.

“I feel like for all the years of service I have put in for the team, and for the league, I honestly feel I deserve quality minutes. For all the sweat, tears, success, failures, and everything in regards to team chemistry, I feel giving me playing time in my very last conference before I retire is fair,” he said.

“Playing me is not doing me a favor. I’m not asking for a favor. Although I feel I deserve better, the reason behind this belief is I actually can still perform,” he added.

Cariaso is puzzled why this treatment from his coach.

“They believe that I can still compete and help out the team. I use practice to show my competitiveness. I am announcing that this is my last year of playing in the PBA. Why is it so hard to give me a little respect? Respect that I deserve, respect that I’ve earned,” Cariaso said.

Cariaso said he’s thankful to the whole Alaska organization and insisted he’s not sour-graping.