Pingris waiting for perfect time to apologize to Nabong

MANILA, Philippines – San Mig Coffee forward Marc Pingris is waiting for the perfect time to apologize to GlobalPort rookie Kelly Nabong after the brawl that marred the Mixers’ 102-88 victory Wednesday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.

“Hindi pa ito yung perfect time to say sorry,” Pingris told reporters after the game.  

“Siguro magkikita kami bukas (Thursday) sa office ni Commissioner (Chito Salud). Dun na kami makakapag-usap. I'll definitely do the first move kapag pareho na kaming malamig. Hindi naman ako yung taong ma-pride, i-accept natin yung pagkakamali natin,” Pingris added. “Nasa kaniya na yun kung tatanggapin niya.”

Pingris and Nabong both had to be restrained after the melee broke out in the 8:11 mark of the third quarter that stemmed from San Mig Coffee import Marqus Blakely and GlobalPort enforcer Marvin Hayes locking arms in rebound scuffle.

Joe Devance then joined the fray shoving Hayes hard into Blakely causing the GlobalPort player to fall on the ground again. Nabong immediately went to rescue his fallen teammate pushing away Blakely and Devance.  That’s when Pingris attacked Nabong and all hell broke loose.

(Below is the video of the basketbrawl from Interaktv's Youtube Channel)

Hayes and Blakely were assessed with a double foul.  Hayes was also hit with a technical foul for second motion alongside Devance while both Pingris and Nabong were ejected from the game.

An apologetic Pingris addressed the reporters who waited for him for almost an hour to emerge from their locker room after the game.

“Sa palagay ko karapat-dapat sa akin yun (suspension and fine). Basta kung mali ka tanggapin mo, di `yung papatawarin ka lang bigla nang walang fine. Dun ka matututo kung may pagkakamali. Di lang suspension yan, may fine din yan,” said Pingris, who is already resigned to his fate on Thursday meeting with Salud.

Pingris is hoping that he can patch things up with Nabong.

“Alam ko namang maayos lahat ni Commissioner [Chito] bukas. Kaya nga siya ang tatay namin dito sa PBA,” Pingris said.

“Kaya bukas papaluin niya kami .”