Taulava is now the PBA’s fifth-best rebounder of all-time. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Asi Taulava moved up in the all-time rebounding list on Wednesday but the only progress that matters to the veteran big man right now is NLEX’s.
Taulava climbed to fifth place and surpassed one of the league’s legends in Philip Cezar, notching 5,839 rebounds following the Road Warriors’ win over the Barako Bull Energy.
But Taulava won’t let his personal accomplishment get in the way of the goals he has set, for NLEX to make it to the playoffs and hopefully get a championship in the end.
“It feels great but in the meantime, I have a lot of work ahead of me especially with NLEX. Last season, I wasn’t too happy when we didn’t make the playoffs,” said Taulava, who eclipsed Cezar in the first half before ending up with 11 rebounds that went with 14 points and four assists. “So all the personal goals and achievements that I’ve done I kind of put that aside and just keep my focus with NLEX.”
“It’s an honor but I try not to think about it too much because I don’t want to get satisfied because my focus is with NLEX. We got to keep our focus because we’re playing the Star Hotshots next and my mindset is just worried about them,” Taulava added.
Taulava wasn’t even aware that he was about to crack the top five and join the likes of Ramon Fernandez, Abet Guidaben, Jerry Codiñera and Alvin Patrimonio.
“I had no idea. Coach was trying to sub me at the endgame. I guess for the standing ovation. I had no idea so I was like ‘why are you subbing me out for?’ So my mind, I’m just totally focused on the game,” he said.
“All these other things feel good but I think I’ll appreciate it more once I retire, once I walk away from the game but for the time being, eveything right now is trying to get NLEX into the finals, get deep in the playoffs and hopefully win a championship.”
That doesn’t mean, though, that Taulava won’t get to cherish another milestone in his career.
“Probably at the end of the season I can sit back, think about it and enjoy it but right now I have to stay focused.”
Still going strong at 42, don’t expect Taulava to hang up his sneakers soon.