WHAT if Marcus Elliott played in the PBA during his prime in Asia?
Several years ago, the now-Macau Black Knights head coach had a stellar run as a player when he starred for Hong Kong Eastern in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL).
The 6-foot-3 guard helped HK capture the ABL crown in the 2016-17 season in what was an outstanding year for the former Northwest Florida State and Louisiana Tech product, who also copped World Import MVP and Finals MVP.
Now 41, Elliott admitted he did get feelers to take his talents to the PBA during that time, but opted to stay with Eastern.
“I did after my first year in the ABL,” he answered when asked if he once had offers to play in Asia's first pay-for-play league. “I had a lot of interest.”
“But Hong Kong Eastern came with a good situation. I chose them,” added Elliott, who was also a champion and MVP for the ball club in their domestic league in 2018.
After Hong Kong, Elliott also played for the Singapore Slingers still in the ABL, then in Uruguay and Argentina.
Coach Marcus
Eight years after that ABL title, Elliott is finally in the PBA, but as a coach with the guest team after he took over from Garrett Kelly three games into their 50th Season Commissioner's Cup campaign, making this stint his first in this new role.
He has also been out of competitive basketball with his time with Hi-Tech in Thailand in 2024 being his last as a player.
Because of his competitiveness, Elliott said he still feels like a player even though he is now the Black Knights' shot-caller.
“I'm learning a lot in a short amount of time,” said the player-turned-coach, still in search of his first win with Macau. “I'm appreciating it though.”
“But it's hard to contain my passion on the sideline because I feel like even though I'm the coach and they are my players, I still feel like a teammate in some aspects from the sidelines. But I'm enjoying it.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
