MANILA, Philippines -- NLEX center Asi Taulava can make history should he play even just one game for the Road Warriors this season.

A direct hire of Mobiline in 1999, Taulava can be the first player in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to play for four decades -- a feat that the legendary Vince Carter recently achieved in the NBA, as he was drafted in 1998 and retired this year.

"I feel fresh again, ready to get back in the gym and start working again," said the 47-year-old Taulava, who is in his seventh season with the NLEX franchise, during an appearance on "2OT."

"The biggest goal for me right now is to be the first player to play four decades, and that's the motivation and my drive now with all my workouts," he added.

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Taulava could have already achieved this goal in March, when the All-Filipino Cup started. But all PBA activities were halted because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, keeping "The Rock" from writing his name in Philippine basketball history.

He is keeping this landmark in mind as he works on his fitness during the quarantine period.

"That's something that's never been in my mind. I never thought about it," Taulava said of the record.

"While I was preparing for myself for the All-Filipino Cup, we just lost Poy (Erram)," he added, referring to their former starting center who was traded to the TNT KaTropa in the offseason. "Coach Yeng (Guiao) needed another big guy, just to fill short minutes."

That was when Taulava, the 2003 league Most Valuable Player, found out that he was on the verge of making history in the PBA.

"Somebody who mentioned it to me about playing for four decades. And it really stuck. I was like, especially during a pandemic, I was like, 'This is a great goal to work for,'" he said.

"I wanna go out there in the All-Filipino and give it everything I got. And if I can help the young guys win a championship, you know that's the best way to end your career," he added. "You know, I didn't just hang around and played four decades, but I hung around and played when Coach Yeng needed me, when I needed to get on the floor."

It remains to be seen when Taulava and the Road Warriors will get to play a game this year. They were supposed to play their season-opener on March 11, but that was when PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced that all activities will be put on hold.

As it stands, PBA teams have already gotten the go-signal from the government to resume practices, although the league office is still waiting for all teams to be tested for COVID-19, as well as the official guidelines from the Games and Amusements Board and the Inter-Agency Task Force.

While they are waiting for the green light, Taulava said he will keep himself ready.

"You know, best thing for me right now in my age is stay in shape. Stay active, keep working out, and have a goal," he said. "You don't know when this season is gonna begin, but the best thing is just to stay in shape, stay ready."

"And especially when you're playing for Coach Yeng, you always gotta be on your toes. There ain't no coming in there with excuses and say we have five months' break, that I suck. You gotta get in there and you gotta help the guys," he added.

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