Pingris family wanted last hurrah, but ‘long-term planner’ Marc ready for life after basketball

If Marc Pingris’ family could have their way, they would've wanted to see the seasoned forward play for one last time in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) with Magnolia.

Pingris’ wife Danica admitted that they’ve had discussions about his retirement in the years prior, but she was still surprised when Marc told her that he’d decided to hang his jersey for good.

“Actually for the past two years, he has been telling me about it. Even before, he had told me about it because Marc is such a planner,” Danica Sotto-Pingris said on Unang Hirit on Monday.

“I just thought that he would have one last run. But when he got back from the province to tell me he’s retiring, I was really shocked.”

Even the basketball star’s children weren’t fans of the idea at first.

“Our daughter said ‘I thought I could still watch daddy’. Although they know we can’t watch the games since it’s pandemic but she thought at least on television, we could still watch him play,” Danica added.

“Mic, meanwhile, since he’s really the one into basketball, he was really the one who was affected by the retirement. He was crying and saying, ‘I really wanted to see you one more time.’”

But Pingris himself had other plans. On May 25, the Magnolia forward officially announced his retirement through social media.

“Actually, Danica and I have to focus on something and I really want to give the opportunity to younger players because I have been there and I know what the feeling is,” Marc said.

“Just so that you guys know and as well as the fans, we started our farm business and if not for the pandemic, I’m sure the PBA games won’t be pushed back,” Danica, daughter of veteran actor and host Vic Sotto, said.

“And Marc has always been telling me to think long-term but it was really a hard decision.”

Pingris, 39, also expressed his gratitude to his and the league’s supporters who stood by their side through the years.

“The number one thing I would really miss are the fans because as I’ve been telling it before, the league can’t live without the fans,” Pingris, a nine-time PBA champion, shared.

“The PBA is here because of them and it’s just saddening to see that they can’t watch the game live.”

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News