Marc Pingris does not have any plans of encouraging his friend and two-time PBA MVP James Yap to retire.
Yap is the only active player left among what was known as the “Big 3” of the Purefoods franchise after Pingris retired last week and PJ Simon bowed out of the game in 2020.
The Big 3 stayed for 12 years and reaped seven championships including the 2014 PBA Grand Slam.
According to the Filipino Sakuragi, he still wants to see Yap play.
“Huwag muna. Ayaw ko. Gusto ko muna siyang mapanood. Si James malakas pa naman. Talagang inaalagaan nya sarili nya,” Pingris said.
The 39-year-old Pozorrubio, Pangasinan-native dribbler also shared Yap’s reaction to his decision to retire after 16 years in the PBA.
“Si James talagang nabigla noong nag-retire na kami. Pero si Peter noong nag-retire siya nag-usap kami, ‘tol sunod na ako sa iyo ah.’ Di ko pa nasasabi kay James. Nagkausap kami sabi nya, ‘ba’t naman ganoon Ping? Akala ko sabay tayo,” Pingris added.
After Pingris’ retirement, Yap is the only active player left from the 2004 PBA Rookie Class. – Report by Ma. Isabel Reyes/ JBB-rir
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