Pingris aims to return next month

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Star is expected to miss veteran forward Marc Pingris for another four to six weeks due to a recurring hip injury.

But the warrior that he is, Pingris aims to return within the next month. 

“Returning in four to six weeks is doable. I don’t have any problems with my conditioning, but my target is really to come back in four weeks,” said Pingris in Filipino after the Hotshots opened their campaign in the 2017 Governors’ Cup with a 103-86 win over Blackwater.

The 35-year-old Pingris returned from his one-month trip in Los Angeles, where he underwent rehabilitation to treat his injury.

“Right now he said, he’s 60 percent. In three weeks time, he’ll be back practicing with us,” said Star head coach Chito Victolero.

Pingris hasn’t seen action since playing in Game 7 of the Philippine Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra four months ago where he played through the injury.

He is itching to play but added he is not going to take any risks in reaggravating the injury.

“The doctor advised me not to play until I’m 100% healed and I also don’t want to return prematurely.”