MARC Pingris has realized that it's never too late to earn a diploma.
The 11-year veteran has returned to school at age 33, enrolling at the Philippine School of Business Administration in Quezon City on Friday to pursue his dream of earning a college degree.
“Nag-enroll ako uli sa PBSA ng management. Kailangan ko rin kasi para na rin sa maliit na business ko,” said the 6-foot-4 Purefoods Star forward as he relayed the good news to Spin.ph on Friday.
The power-playing Pingris said he has actually enrolled in a full load of 27 units in a management course for the second semester, underscoring his seriousness to earn a degree and prepare for his post-basketball life.
The 33-year-old many-time All-Defensive team member admitted that he has stopped going to school after leaving the PSBA Jaguars to play in the defunct MBA back in 2001.
But after winning multiple PBA titles with Purefoods, including last season’s grand slam, he felt it is time to allot some time in school, knowing that he won’t be playing basketball forever.
“At least magagamit ko ito (college degree) balang araw, at itutuloy ko na rin siguro ito later sa Master’s (degree),” he added.
The Pangasinan native said he has about three more years left in his management course, having studied at PSBA for just one school year before turning pro by way of the MBA.
But the Gilas forward is confident he can squeeze the full load into his schedule, saying he will be mostly taking late-afternoon classes after Purefoods' practices at the Ronac Gym.