Asi Taulava becomes oldest active player in the PBA

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Asi Taulava will not be retiring.

As the 2021 PBA Governor’s Cup is coming to a close, the NLEX Road Warriors’ management confirmed that they will be reactivating the veteran, including him in their final 15-man lineup.

Taulava donning the NLEX uniform in the upcoming PBA conference will make him the oldest active player in the PBA at 48 years of age.

NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao explained that bringing back Taulava was a no-brainer as the team needed his length and size in the paint to contest the imports of the different teams.

“We felt the need to have him there because we’re lacking in size. If he can hold his own for five, six minutes a game, that is already a contribution,” Guiao said.

The Filipino-Tongan big man last saw action during the 2020 Philippine Cup and averaged 4.3 points and 2 rebounds in three games but sat out in the recently concluded PH Cup.

Shrugging off retirement talks, Taulava always expressed how grateful he is to still be in the PBA, still in shape and still giving what he can do for the Road Warriors.

Guiao then shared that if the team will have a decent Governor’s Cup campaign with import KJ McDaniels, then it will serve as a fitting farewell if ever Taulava decided to hang up his jersey.

“If we do good this conference, I think it will serve as a fitting sendoff for Asi because he deserves such tribute,” added Guiao.

NLEX will kick off its Governor’s Cup quest as they take on the revamped San Miguel Beermen squad on December 8, 2021.