MANILA -- After months of speculations, Chris Tiu confirmed on social media that he is closing his basketball career.
"#17 signing off," the 33-year-old Rain Or Shine guard said on Twitter Tuesday that signified his intent to retire from competitive game.
Tiu, the seventh pick of the 2012 PBA Draft, played with the Welcoat franchise for all of his six seasons in the league, winning one championship.
"It’s now time to move on," said Tiu, who is also a television host and an entrepreneur.
Talks came ripe about Tiu's impending retirement as early as June last year, when his former collegiate basketball coach at Ateneo, current Meralco mentor Norman Black, said that he heard a conversation regarding it.
Tiu then confirmed that he thought about retirement as early as last season's Commissioner's Cup but eventually opted to play in the Governors' Cup.
In what would be the final game of his career, Tiu dropped 30 points, his first and, eventually, only 30-point game ever, to cap a career-high season, making fans wonder if he is really retiring or staying.
But his tweet finally answered all speculations.
"My heartfelt gratitude to every person who has been part of my basketball journey!! Most especially to our Lord who makes all things possible," Tiu said. (PNA)
