DOUG Kramer at least knows when the right time is to call it quits.
The Phoenix big man didn't hesitate to finally walk away from the game while he's still able to play competitively in the PBA.
Kramer proudly said he's retiring with a healthy mind and body.
"I'm very strong physically. I can still take the banging. But parang naging notion na kasi for almost every basketball player, will you wait till something is really painful until you give up, until puro pain killer ka na lang. I'm not like that," said Kramer after playing his last game in the league Friday opposite Blackwater.
Kramer played 12 seasons in the PBA, where he was the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft by Air21 Express.
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He also had stints with Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine, Powerade, Barako Bull, Petron, NorthPort, and finally with Phoenix.
The muscular, 6-foot-5 center from Ateneo said he's been planning to hang up his jersey as early as last year.
"It wasn't a spontaneous thing. I planned this maybe for the past year, and then parang na-solidify lang yung plans ko the past few months," he said.
"I wanted to announce it, no. 1 because parang no-bearing na yung game and I wanted the fans to know also that it was my last game. There were some fans that came out and said their goodbyes."
Kramer suited up for 19 minutes and scored three points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his final game as a pro, a 120-117 squeaker in overtime against the Elite.
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"I played limited minutes but I'm happy that I got 10 boards. The win was the most important," said the 36-year-old retiree.
The horizon does look bright for Kramer, who admitted still has a lot to do outside of basketball.
"At the end of the day, I'm still very young. I still want to do so much," he said.
"I have plans with my family. I will announce in my social media soon what I'm planning with my family," Kramer added. "It's going to be a nice retirement." (RG)
