“Proud ako kasi magiging legend ako”: Ranidel de Ocampo on TNT retiring his No. 33 jersey

Former TNT star Ranidel de Ocampo has firmly cemented his legacy as one of the franchise’s greatest players and is set to be recognized as a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend.

The TNT Tropang Giga recently announced that they will retire De Ocampo’s No. 33 jersey in his honor. The ceremony is scheduled to take place during halftime of the Philippine Cup semifinal Game 3 between TNT and the Meralco Bolts on Friday, January 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Currently serving as an assistant coach under Chot Reyes for TNT, De Ocampo expressed his pride in receiving such a rare recognition.

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“Siyempre very proud ako kasi bihira lang naman ‘yung mabibigyan ng ganitong kumbaga recognition. At ito pang dati kong team na Talk ‘N Text, nilaruan ko Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, ‘yun ‘yung ire-retire na jersey,” he said in a media interaction.

“Proud ako kasi kumbaga magiging legend ako. Masarap din ‘pag natatawag kang legend. ‘Yun nga, PBA legend. At the same time, kumbaga parang nagbunga ‘yung pinaghirapan mo,” he added.

WATCH: Ranidel de Ocampo “proud” to have jersey retired by TNT https://t.co/oRrQxD3pqi

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At 44 years old, De Ocampo becomes only the third TNT player to have his jersey retired, joining PBA legends Jimmy Alapag (No. 3) and Harvey Carey (No. 4). He also took a moment to acknowledge the people who contributed to his success.

“Kasama ko doon ang sa pag-asenso ko, sa pagiging successful ng career ko, ang pamilya ko, ang mga magulang ko, ang mga kapatid ko. Pati mother ko, ayan. At siyempre ang solid sa TNT fans, saka ‘yung team RDO exclusive. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila. Kasama ko sila hanggang nga ngayon na hindi na ako naglalaro, nandiyan parin sila sumusuporta,” he said.

De Ocampo’s career in the PBA began when he was selected fourth overall by FedEx/Air21 Express in the 2004 draft. He joined TNT in 2008 and played with the franchise until 2017. During his time with the Tropang Giga, he won six PBA championships, was named a two-time PBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), earned the PBA Best Player of the Conference award in the 2014 Governors’ Cup, and received nine PBA All-Star nominations.

Reflecting on his career highlights, De Ocampo singled out his first championship as particularly memorable.

“‘Yung first championship ko, ‘yun ding year na ‘yun, ‘yung conference na ‘yun. So ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-memorable sa akin. ‘Yung very, very first championship kasama ko ‘yung kapatid ko si kuya Yancy,” he recalled.

With the retirement of his No. 33 jersey, TNT will not only honor De Ocampo’s on-court achievements but also celebrate his enduring influence on the franchise, both as a player and a mentor. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of TNT players, ensuring that Ranidel de Ocampo remains a true icon of Philippine basketball.

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