IT didn't come as a surprise when praises poured in shortly after veteran big man Harvey Carey formally announced his retirement from the PBA.
The soft-spoken Fil-Am was after all, a humble consummate teammate who was contented doing the blue-collar work in all of his 17-year playing career spent with the TNT franchise.
From champion coach Chot Reyes, former teammate Jared Dillinger, Gabe Norwood, to PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, all are one in saying how playing and winning become fun with the 6-foot-3 forward around.
"Not much can be said except we could NOT have won ANY ONE of our titles while I was there without @ManilaBlack4," said Reyes in a Twitter post. The only five-time Coach of the Year won four
championships with Carey serving as part of his shock troopers with the Tropang Giga, including three straight Philippine Cup titles from 2009 to 2011.
"Congrats to one of my best friends/mentor/brother @ManilaBlack4 on a stellar career! Enjoy your retirement my man! I'll be seeing you soon. I love you," said Dillinger, now with Barangay Ginebra, in a similar Twitter post. The 37-year-old Dillinger won five championships together with Carey at TNT.
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Carey, 41, officially hang up his sneakers on Monday after a stellar career with the mother ballclub of the Manny V. Pangilinan group from 2003 to 2020.
He won a total of seven championships in his entire stay with the franchise and the only remaining player from TNT's first ever championship unit in 2003, the same year he was picked by the team as no. 4 overall in the draft.
Mild-mannered and respectful of his peers, Carey was an All-Star in 2011, became part of the All-Defensive Team in 2007, and a Mythical Second Team member in 2003.
He was also a member of the league's 2,000 defensive rebound and 1,000 offensive rebound clubs.
No wonder even foes alike have nothing but high regard for the 41-year-old product of Sonoma State.
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"A true professional in every sense of the word," said Norwood, the veteran Rain or Shine guard of Carey. "Happy hooping retirement @ManilaBlack4. Thanks for looking out for me over the years."
Vargas, the long-time TNT board of governor, expressed gratitude for the long service Carey did in playing his entire pro career with the team, a rarity now in the league.
"I am personally grateful to Harvey for his loyalty, honesty, and contributions to the team. He has been a quiet pillar of strength in building the TNT culture," said the team executive.
"We wish Harvey the very best as he moves on. Our doors will always be open to Harvey."
Carey last played for the Tropang Giga during the Philippine Cup bubble last season.
He averaged 6.9 points and 6.7 rebounds. (RG)
