Veteran Marc Pingris’ debut in the Pilipinas Super League was cut short as he was ejected in the second period of Biñan’s game against JT Taipan in the President’s Cup late Wednesday at the Central Recreation Convention Center in Quezon City.
The 42-year-old former Philippine Basketball Association star was thrown out with 6:30 left in the second quarter after hitting Ichie Altamirano with a basketball on the face.
Pingris was about to go airborne when he got fouled by Altamirano. But instead of stopping the play, Pingris hit Altamirano with the basketball, prompting the referees to slap him with an automatic ejection.
Pingris’ ejection, however, had injected life on the side of Biñan, which went on to prevail, 64-48.
“I just fired up my teammates,” said Pingris, commissioner of the inaugural staging of the PSL who returned to active competition last season after seeing action for Imus in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
In the new season of the PSL, Pingris joined the core of that Imus team composed of fellow retired PBA players like Jayjay Helterbrand and KG Cañaleta.
Several other former PBA players were also included in the squad like Rico Maierhofer, who was sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Mac Cardona and Jerwin Gaco were relegated to the coaching staff.
Still, it was a promising debut win for Biñan, which joined Caloocan on the winning track.
The Supremos clobbered Camarines Norte, 82-74, with another former PBA player Gabby Espinas leading the way.
Espinas muscled his way for 10 points and 11 rebounds, proving that he is still an immovable force inside the shaded lane.
