MARC Pingris is good at hiding injuries.
Only a few people knew that when the Star forward flashed his vintage form in the last two games of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra, he was actually nursing a hip injury he sustained in Game Five of the best-of-seven series that went the limit.
Pingris revealed to SPIN.ph that he is still recovering from the the injury that will force him to miss at least the Hotshots’ first two games in the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Pahinga muna,” the 35-year-old cager said after watching the Hotshots’ friendly against TNT Katropa on Thursday from the sidelines. “May konting iniinda na injury.”
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Pingris bared he was hurt during a fall with Japeth Aguilar in Game Five against the Gin Kings.
“Mula nun, pinilit ko na lang talaga yung dalawang games,” the Hotshots stalwart insisted.
Pingris, it seems, plays better when he’s hurt as he averaged 15.5 points on 53.8-percent shooting, nine rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks in 37 minutes in the last two games of the series.
But now, the injury has taken its toll and will force him to sit a few games.
“Sana wag matagalan, pero parang binigyan ako ng two weeks (para maka-recover),” Pingris said ahead of the Hotshots' first game of the midseason tournament on Wednesday versus Phoenix.