Pingris rejoins Star practice, set for return

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Star, the team tipped to give Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer a run for its money in the PBA Governors’ Cup, is about to get a much-needed boost.

Marc Pingris, the hard-nosed anchor of the Hotshots’ defense, is set to make a return to active play within the next two games at the soonest as Star tries to crack a championship series for the first time this season.

Out for more than six months because of a hip injury, Pingris practiced for the first time on Monday as the Hotshots were preparing to slug it out with Phoenix Petroleum in two days, seeking to keep their immaculate elimination round slate intact.

But coach Chito Victolero is not about to rush his ace power forward back into action.

“He needs to get his timing back,” Victolero said.

“Relatively, he played well (in practice), but we will not rush him. He needs to get his rhythm back and hopefully, he can rejoin us soon.”

Pingris went to the United States for rehab and therapy and will definitely be of big use to the Hotshots, who were ousted in painful manners in the Philippine Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup.

Star has the tools to go all the way and has been in all pre-conference hypes because of a solid roster that could rival San Miguel, which claimed the Hotshots’ scalps in the Commissioner’s Cup Final Four before winning the championship over TNT KaTropa.

With a 3-0 record, Star is the only unbeaten team in the ongoing season-closing conference.