After six years, Marc Pingris is back with Gilas Pilipinas.
This time around, the player who led Gilas’ battlecry ‘Puso’ from 2013-2016 will now be helping out on the sidelines as he will be part of the team’s coaching staff come the second window of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Gilas team manager and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas deputy executive director Butch Antonio confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
This will mark Pingris’ return to the national team since the 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament-Manila.
The 6-foot-4 utility forward made his international debut during the 2000 Asian Championship for Young Men.
The proud son of Pozorrubio, Pangasinan would then play in the 2003 Asian Championship for Men, the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup, the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup, before making his Gilas swansong during the OQT.
In Gilas, he will join the staff that has head coach Chot Reyes and assistant coaches Josh Reyes, Jong Uichico, and Nenad Vucinic.
With regards to his job as commissioner of upstart league Pilipinas Super League, taking charge for him for the meantime are president Rocky Chan, vice president Rey Alao, and deputy commissioner Chelito Caro.
“We are supporting Comm Ping’s decision kasi it’s for the country,” said PSL president Chan.
“We are 100-percent behind him!”
Gilas face South Korea on February 24, India on the 25th, New Zealand on the 27th, and South Korea again on the 28th. All games will be held behind closed doors at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
