IF one looks at it, Marc Pingris already has all a basketball player could ever dream of: multiple championships, a grand slam, and a handful of individual achievements.
But there’s apparently still one dream the 12-year PBA veteran has yet to fulfill — until in two weeks.
The Star forward finally gets a chance to play for coach Yeng Guiao as they team up in the North team in the All-Star game on August 7 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Sa totoo lang, walang biro, ito yung pangarap ko na natupad: gusto ko siyang maging coach,” Pingris said after the Hotshots’ 105-102 win over GlobalPort in the Governors’ Cup on Sunday. “Ito talaga, natupad talaga, di ko akalain na siya ang coach.”
Pingris, named to the North starting lineup alongside Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Japeth Aguilar, and Mark Caguioa, said he will treat the game seriously, especially under a no-nonsense Rain or Shine coach in Guiao.
“Kelangan seryoso, walang biro-biro kay coach,” the 6-foot-4 workhorse said.
[See Irony not lost on Guiao as he reunites with Aguilar, coaches Abueva in All-Stars]
Guiao earlier said that the players in his starting lineup are all his “best friends,” probably implying his various altercations with them in the past.
“Bespren ko rin naman siya eh,” Pingris said with a smile. “Alam ko naman si Coach Yeng eh, as a coach, napakagaling na coach.”
The 34-year-old Pingris also expressed his gratitude to the fans for voting him to the Starting Five.
“Of course, gusto naming magpasalamat sa lahat ng fans na nagtiwala sa amin,” the affable cager from Pangasinan said. “Talagang para sa kanila naman yun e, di para sa amin.”
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