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PETER June Simon’s shirt removal in Magnolia was suspended without a glimpse of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The special ceremony honoring Simon’s No. 8 jersey with the Purefoods franchise was supposed to take place on Mother’s Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum during the first seasonal meeting between the Hotshots and rival Barangay Geneva Kings.
Unfortunately, the season only played a single game when the PBA hierarchy decided to shut down league operations indefinitely after the coronavirus outbreak in the country two months ago.
“Yes, it was a tribute and scheduled withdrawal,” said a San Miguel Corporation (SMC) executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official statement from the company regarding the postponement of the retirement ceremony.
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Due to the health crisis, no further arrangements have been made about the alleged special tribute to one of the most dedicated players in franchise history.
“Boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang) is usually asked for approval,” added the same SMC source. “He won his first game before playing the players.”
Simon’s shirt will be the fourth to retire in Purefoods franchise history after four-time MVP Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera and Rey Evangelista.
Like Simon, Evangelista y Patrimonio, now Magnolia’s team manager, played their entire PBA careers with the franchise.
A 39-year-old Makilala native, Cotabato signed a conference deal with the Hotshots, giving management time to arrange for their retirement ceremony just before the season began.
But all that remains pending since the PBA has been left with only two options given the current pandemic: to resume the stagnant Philippine Cup or to discard the entire season.
As far as the SMC official’s understanding is concerned, the retirement ceremony for Simon, who joined Purefoods as a free agent in 2004 after the support of former coach Ryan Gregorio, will also be moved to a later date.
“I think so, but Hindi pa naman na-discuss ulit,” said the SMC source.
The 5-foot-11-inch guard at the University of Mindanao was a late and late pick in the 2001 St. Lucia draft, ranked fifth in the No. 43 overall pick.
But Real Estate Agents left him unsigned, paving the way for his passage through the Davao Eagles at the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), where he was named “Discovery of the Year” at the end of the 2001 season.
After the MBA retired the following year, Simon took his performance to the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) winning an MVP and a league championship while preparing for Hapee toothpaste.
His impressive period of PBL caught the attention of Gregorio, who enrolled him with Purefoods.
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In his 17 years with the team, Simon won a total of eight championships, was named an All-Star eight times, was hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the 2008 All-Star Game and a member of the league’s legendary second team in 2014 when San Mig Coffee completed a rare Grand Slam.
Although considered a star in Magnolia, Simon has come to be known as the team’s sixth most valuable man, earning him two Mr. Quality Minutes Awards in 2008 and 2014 from the PBA Press Corps.
