Rain or Shine has an added motivation to win it all in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Philippine Cup.

Elder statesman and playing deputy coach Gabe Norwood has announced his intentions to hang up his sneakers by the end of the season-opening conference on Thursday.

The Elasto Painters released on their official social media account a video clip of Norwood’s announcement.    

“One last conference. One last ride. One last flight,” said Norwood, who spent all 17 seasons of his PBA career with the franchise.

Norwood’s decision added fuel to the blazing desire of the Yeng Guiao-mentored franchise to end a nine-year title drought.

“I’ve been watching the video for a while now and I’m getting goosebumps. Of course, I’ve been with Gabe for a long time,” Rain or Shine guard Andrei Caracut said during his guesting in the DAILY TRIBUNE’S Off the Court on Thursday.

Caracut said the Elasto Painters are all eager to compete in the all-Filipino tournament with hopes of giving Norwood a fitting parting gift.   

“I hope we can have this conference for him. We dedicate this conference to Gabe. I hope we’ll become champions,” he said.

The 6-foot-6 Filipino-American was selected first overall by Rain or Shine in 2008 following his stint in the defunct Philippine Basketball League.

Norwood, a George Mason University product, was instrumental in Rain or Shine’s only titles to date — the 2011-2012 Governors’ Cup and the 2015-2016 Commissioner’s Cup.

The 40-year-old Norwood has also suited up for Gilas Pilipinas, helping the national team to a silver medal finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup and an appearance in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

As an Elasto Painter, Norwood endeared himself to his younger teammates as a “Kuya” and mentor. He’s also a reliable right-hand man of Guiao.

“Gabe, when I joined, he’s really like a Kuya to us. You can talk to him easily. He’s very professional. He’s very important to each of us,” said the Rain or Shine’s 23rd overall pick of the 2021 Draft.

Caracut described Norwood as very motivational.

“Of course, he gave me a lot of advice. But there was one game that was like a semifinals series. My game was really bad. But he said, ‘I trust you,’” he recalled.