Helterbrand retirement? No, not yet

MANILA, Philippines - Jayjay Helterbrand is shelving retirement plan to help Barangay Ginebra make another title run after its PBA Governors Cup championship conquest.

Helterbrand heeded the calls of coach Tim Cone and his teammates, agreeing to meet with the team management possibly for a one-year contract-extension deal.

“He will be back. He will sign for another year. He’s ready to play,” said Cone after a talk with Helterbrand yesterday.

Helterband had hinted at retiring at the end of the 2015-16 PBA season, his 15th since joining the league as a direct-hire recruit by Barangay Ginebra in 2000.

He turned 40 during the Ginebra-Meralco titular showdown. But Helterbrand showed he still has got the game, fire and passion to compete, playing a key role in their conquest of the Bolts.

He played big and delivered in particular in Games Four and Six.

At the end of the series, Cone branded Helterbrand and Mark Caguioa as their “series savers.”

He averaged 6.0 points and 1.75 rebounds in the series and went down in PBA history as the third player to win a championship in their 40s, joining in the elite list league legends Robert Jaworski and Ramon Fernandez.

He’s among the league’s 40 Greatest Players of all time with an MVP plum won in 2009.

Another highlight of a colorful career was being part of the Philippine team to the 2007 and 2009 FIBA Asia Championships under coach Chot Reyes then coach Yeng Guiao.

Through 15 PBA seasons, Helterbrand has collected 5,374 points, 1,737 rebounds, 2,104 assists. He has career norms of 9.4 points, 3.68 assists and 3.4 rebounds.

He’s among the league’s premier guards of all time.