Jayjay Helterbrand announces retirement

LA Tenorio hugs Jayjay Helterbrand after Ginebra won the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

After 17 seasons, Jayjay Helterbrand is finally hanging up his sneakers for good.

The Ginebra playmaker announced his retirement in an interview with CNN Philippines, ending his legendary run with the Gin Kings.

“This is one of the most special ones for me because it will probably my last as a player,” he said on Monday as he and backcourt partner Mark Caguioa made a guesting on the show after Ginebra’s back-to-back title conquest in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup.

Helterbrand also confirmed his decision when to INQUIRER.net.

Since coming to the league as a direct hire in 2000, Helterbrand had made a name for himself as he forged a partnership with Caguioa which was christened as “The Fast and The Furious.”

He went on to win six titles with the franchise, one of which he was named as the Finals MVP. He was also hailed as the 2009 PBA Most Valuable Player, won two Best Player of the Conference awards, and named to seven All-Star Games, two of which he was cited as the All-Star Game MVP.

Though he’s bidding his professional career goodbye, Helterbrand said that he’s hoping to be one of coach Tim Cone’s assistants in the Ginebra coaching staff soon.

“Hopefully, I’ll still be around and I can have a spot as an assistant coach or something,” he also said.

But not right now, as Helterbrand is planning on taking some well-needed vacation before plotting his way back to basketball.

“I think as far as it goes, I’m gonna take a rest from basketball for a little while, kind of miss basketball and come back later on,” he said.