Pingris won't be operated on, may join Llamados in December

Not all is bad news as far as Derby Ace’s bid for back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup titles is concerned. Marc Pingris, the Llamados’ energetic, do-it-all power-forward, may be back in the team’s starting line up sooner than later as he’s no longer scheduled to go under the knife as indicated earlier. Derby Ace Board representative and league chairman Rene Pardo confirmed that no operation is needed on the 6-foot-4 Pingris, but rather, only a thorough rehabilitation to repair a muscle tear in his right leg. “The doctors discovered a tear, but it’s not that serious. No operation is needed," said Pardo. The Derby Ace executive added Pingris’ rehabilitation should take about three months, meaning he’ll likely be back on the active roster by December at the latest. The Philippine Cup, the league’s season-opening conference, formally kicks off on Oct. 3. Pingris' teammate 6-foot-6 Kerby Raymundo already went under the knife at the famed Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, California and will likely be sidelined for the next five months. Reigning league Most Valuable Player and Derby Ace gunner James Yap also underwent a minor operation recently on a nose polyp, which the player said was causing him to have difficulty in breathing. But he’s expected to be ready action when the 36th season of the league opens shop as the operation only requires him to take a 10-day rest. The Llamados are attempting to become the first team in the last 25 years to win the All-Filipino title in successive fashion since the defunct Great Taste squad did it in 1984 and 85. - RCJ/HS, GMANews.TV