Simon, Baguio enter and leave PBA without fanfare

MANILA, Philippines – PJ Simon was an unsigned fifth round pick while Cyrus Baguio got tabbed in the second round.

Yet both high-flyers went on to have long, rewarding PBA careers.

They lasted 17 years and bowed out as solid performers. The 5-foot-11 Simon with Magnolia Hotshots and the 6-2 Baguio with NLEX Road Warriors.

They were not superstars, just key players.

Their monikers suit them well. Simon as "SuperSub" because he delivers as a reliever and Baguio as "Skyrus" for his acrobatic drives and slam dunks.

Chosen No. 43 in the 2001 draft and was eventually left out, Simon broke through the PBA in 2004 and announced his retirement after Magnolia put him in the free agent list three weeks before the 2020 Philippine Cup started last September.

Simon was 40 and along the way he earned eight championship rings and made eight All-Star Game appearances, capped by winning the 3-point shootout in the 2019 All-Star in Calasiao, Pangasinan. In 2008, he became the All-Star MVP in Bacolod and in 2014 made the Mythical Second Team.

Baguio, who was tutored in the game by his late uncle and PBA point guard RicRic Marata, was picked no. 14 overall by Red Bull.

He won three championships with Alaska in 2006, 2010 and 2013 and was a two-time Mythical Second Team.

Also 40 years old, Baguio will be remembered as the 2004 Slam Dunk king.

Baguio was supposed to play for NLEX in the last Philippine Cup but opted not to enter the Clark bubble to attend to his business.

Just how valuable Simon and Baguio is can be gleaned from a recent tweet by Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone, the PBA's most accomplished mentor who had the chance to handle them both.

"It's sayang (too bad) that players like PJ and Cyrus didn't have a chance to play their last year because of the pandemic and not be able to feel their fan's appreciation on the court. I love these two and I hope they know my appreciation," said Cone.

Simon and Baguio would surely know. But they choose to leave the way they entered. Without fanfare.