IT was a good 16-year run for Marc Pingris. And for him, it was enough.
The Magnolia Hotshots veteran announced his PBA retirement Tuesday night, making everything official by writing a long, emotional post on his Instagram account.
Pingris accompanied his retirement post with a one-minute clip showing him as a young kid growing up in Pozzorubio, Pangasinan all the way to his journey to Asia's first ever play-for-pay league and as one of the heroes of Gilas Pilipinas.
Pingris distinguished himself as a top defensive player throughout his career, a quality that would earn him a total of nine championships, highlighted by a rare grand slam in 2014 with the Purefoods franchise.
A three-time Defensive Player of the Year and eighth-time member of the All-Defensive team, the former PSBA stalwart also left an indelible mark in Philippine basketball history when he played a major role in Gilas Pilipinas qualifying in the FIBA World Cup for the first time in 36 years following the national team's dramatic 86-79 victory over nemesis South Korea in the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup semifinals in Manila.
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Pingris became a longtime Gilas regular and was a key fixture in their admirable, brave stand against world heavyweights Greece, Croatia, Argentina and Puerto Rico and African power Senegal in the world meet in Seville.
"Thank you Tol sa buong puso mo! Salamat at naging part kami ng journey mo mula sa simula. Good luck sa bagong chapter. God bless you and your family! Happy retirement," said Gilas pal Ranidel de Ocampo.
All of these were but dreams that came through for Pingris, who grew up working in the wet market of Pangasinan.
He recalled his name being picked as the no. 3 overall selection by FedEx in the 2004 draft as the realization of his boyhood aspiration.
"Doon nagsimulang matupad ang pangarap ng isang batang palengke," said Pingris.
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The 6-foot-4 forward dubbed 'Pinoy Sakuragi,' played just a single season with the Express before being dealt to Purefoods the next season, where he finally found his place in the league.
He won his first title with the team during the 2006 Philippine Cup where he also clinched the first of two Finals MVP in his career.
More championships would come his way in later years while playing for the SMC franchise, once even briefly suiting up for flagship team San Miguel.
But it was Purefoods which really became the signature ballclub for Pingris, who went to enjoy immense success playing for coaches Ryan Gregorio, Chito Victolero, and Tim Cone.
It was with Cone that he won five championships, including four in a row starting in the 2013 Governors' Cup all the way to the grand slam season.
"End of an era. Certainly one of a kind. I loved, in every way, coaching Ping. Tough as nails on the court, gentle in spirit off it. @MPingris15 will be the standard from which I coach future players. My fav," coach Tim Cone posted on Twitter.
Named part of the PBA's 40 Greatest Players, Pingris also thanked his family and loved ones including wife Danica and kids Mic and Cael, former coaches, teammates, and all team personnel he had the chance to work with during his PBA journey.
Special mention were also given to SMC bosses Ramon S. Ang, Alfrancis Chua, Butch Alejo, Governor Rene Pardo, team manager Alvin Patrimonio, and the late Eduardo 'Danding' Cojuangco.
Other individual awards for Pingris include being a three-time Mythical Second Team member, former Most Improved Player, All-Star MVP, and 15-time All-Star.
He last played for the Hotshots during the 2019 season before a calf injury kept him from suiting up in the Philippine Cup bubble last year. (RG)
