Cyrus Baguio adds casualties to NLEX’s depleted side ahead of Clark’s bubble

Cyrus Baguio became the second NLEX player to opt out of next month’s planned reboot of the PBA season inside the Clark bubble, the team confirmed Thursday.

NLEX team manager Ronald Dulatre said Baguio will skip the season restart for personal reasons.

“Cyrus will not join for personal reasons,” Dulatre told the Manila Bulletin.

Baguio’s decision came days after his teammate Larry Fonacier chose to jump the bubble due to his wife having health problems.

Unlike Fonacier, Baguio has joined the NLEX practices at the FCL Center in Quezon City since the resumption of training in late August.

The decision could mark the end of Baguio’s 17-year career in the PBA after indicating earlier this year that the PBA Philippine Cup will be his last.

But those plans were derailed after the PBA season was suspended on March 11 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baguio has played for six teams, including NLEX, since Red Bull selected him 14th in the 2003 PBA Draft.