Kerby Raymundo mulls retirement

MANILA, Philippines – Kerby Raymundo, among the finest big men who strutted their stuff in Philippine pro basketball, is contemplating on retiring at the not-so-old age of 32 due to his recurring knee injury.

The 6-foot-6 center/forward from Orion, Bataan has found himself at crossroads while hurt and without a live playing contract.

With the expiration of his contract last Oct. 31 and not getting a formal offer from his mother club Meralco, Raymundo has become an unrestricted free agent since Dec. 1.

“He’s in some kind of situation. That’s why he’s saying he’s giving himself up to Jan. 15 to decide whether to retire or still go on playing,” said Danny Espiritu, the agent/adviser of the former Letran Knight.

“If he decides to continue to play, it means coughing up P4.5 million – the cost of a procedure he would undertake in the US to repair his injury,” Espiritu also said.

“He’s thinking ‘do I need to spend that money for the surgery or should I just put that money in business and quit playing?’” Espiritu also said.

If he undergoes surgery, he would take about eight months to recover and be ready to plunge back into action.

“Actually, he’s just back from the US where his injury was checked. The doctor said his case is the same of that of Grant Hill. The doctor gave him two options – the P4.5-million surgery or a temporary remedy worth P100,000. The doctor said the temporary remedy, to be injected on the injured knee, had its risks,” said Espiritu.

“Kerby chose the temporary remedy. He got the shot on Nov. 14. Early this month, he started running and jumping, and, sadly, he again felt pain and again there’s swelling in his knee,” Espiritu added.

The two-time Asian Games veteran has been in the PBA in the last 12 seasons, the best part of which he spent with Purefoods that he helped win four championships.

Raymundo also won a crown with Red Bull in his rookie year in 2001.

He’s a one-time Mythical First Team member and got two Mythical Second Team citations and one Finals MVP award.

Through the 2012-13 season, Raymundo has accumulated 5,766 points, 3,418 rebounds, 1,103 assists, 228 steals and 284 blocks.

He’s sure of his place among the league’s elite players whenever he chooses to hang his jersey.