Pingris hopes Gilas learns lessons from the New Zealand loss: pic.twitter.com/jjIQ0qeKvb
— LVJ (@levijoshua) July 6, 2016
While disappointed as Gilas Pilipinas exited the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines in heartbreaking fashion, emotional leader Marc Pingris hopes the squad continues to learn from its losses.
Gilas dropped its second straight game to New Zealand on Wednesday, 89-80, and formally bowed out of contention for the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
“Masakit, diba. Natalo eh,” the teary-eyed Pingris said Wednesday night, adding Gilas may not have entered the game with their all.
“Ginawa naman lahat eh. Pero nagkataon na maganda rin yung mga jump shot nila. Nakunan kami ng maraming rebound. Parang hindi kami lumabas na hundred percent ngayon,” he shared.
“Siguro, kumbaga iniisip namin na kayang-kaya namin sila. Kami yung kinaya talaga nila. Sana laking aral ‘to sa team.”
New Zealand had four players in double-digit scoring. 21 year old Kiwi Tai Webster led the team with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. His brother Corey added 23 points on an efficient 50 percent shooting clip.
The Tall Blacks also shot better from the field at 48 percent, compared to Gilas’ 41 percent, and drew 16 points off their opponent’s 12 turnovers.
Pingris, who only had a rebound in a brief seven-minute, two-second stint, also felt that the Tall Blacks wanted the game more than Gilas did.
“Talagang mas gutom sila noong lumabas sila. Mas binigay nila yung best nila. Sila nga duma-dive sa bola eh,” he said.
The 34-year-old forward felt disappointed that this iteration of Gilas’ months of preparation went to waste, but he insisted the team should pick up valuable lessons from the journey.
“Sa akin, siguro sayang lang yung training-training. Siguro nasayangan lang ako. Ang dami naming pagkakataon na manalo. Laking aral ‘tong nangyari sa amin,” Pingris said, adding the tournament helped Gilas get more exposure.
“Kahit papano nakikilala yung bansa natin. Alam naman natin na kaya natin lumaban.”.
“Siguro ilagay rin natin yung puso sana sa paglalaro. Hindi lang sa talent. Hindi tayo mananalo doon. Sana, samahan natin ng puso talaga. Yun naman ang puhunan sa basketball talaga. Hard work tsaka puso, hindi lang talento.”
