Cone said Simon is one of the greatest PBA players that he has ever coached and he is happy that his PBA jersey will be retired by Purefoods.
“And PJ’s story was so inspiring, coming in as a very late pick, bounced out of the PBA and made his return to the big league to become one of the greatest players I’ve ever coached,” Cone said.
Earlier, Rene Pardo, board governor of the squad said they had long wanted to retire the jersey of Simon.
“Hinintay lang namin na may fans na,” wrote Governor Pardo via Messenger.
Based on tradition, once a basketball jersey is retired it cannot be used by any other player anymore.
Simon played for 17 seasons in the PBA for the Purefoods franchise before he retired in September of 2020.
Before making it big in Metro Manila, Simon played for the University of Mindanao Wildcats Bolton campus during his college days.
Simon is one of the inspirations of many PBA players from Mindanao due to his success in the PBA and the way he managed himself out of the court. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
Photo: Peter June Simon FB page