Pingris wants best of both worlds

If Marc Pingris will have it his way, he wants to coach in the Philippine Basketball Association while playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

In a telephone interview, Pingris admitted that he remains attached to the game so he wants to continue playing for Imus in the MPBL while plunging into coaching part of Jeffrey Cariaso's staff at Blackwater in the PBA.

After retiring in the PBA in 2021, the 41-year-old Pingris made a return to competitive play when he joined the SV Squad together with other former PBA stars in KG Canaleta, Rico Maierhofer and Jayjay Helterbrand early this year.

Imus entered the MPBL Southern Division playoffs, but got eliminated by Batangas City.

But a golden opportunity came when his former coach, Cariaso, handled the Bossing and hired Pingris to serve as a playing-assistant coach.

Pingris admitted that he is at a crossroads.

"I still want to play for Imus in the MPBL and want to start my coaching career as part of the Blackwater coaching staff," Pingris told Daily Tribune.

"I'm just hoping Blackwater would allow me to do such."

Pingris' agent, Ed Ponceja, confirmed the Bossing's offer, saying that the squad wanted him to assume the same role that Chris Ross was given at San Miguel Beer.