Despite having retired from national team duties after the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016, Marc Pingris still keeps a close eye on Gilas Pilipinas Men.
The former pillar of the national team couldn’t help but marvel at the talent in the current roster, especially in the big man department.
“Sa totoo lang, maganda yung lineup natin ngayon kasi madaming batang matatangkad at magagaling,” the 44-year-old veteran, who now plays for Binan Tatak Gel, said during the signing ceremony between the MPBL and Sportsplus last Monday at Gameville.
During Pingris’ era, the Gilas team that made it to the 2014 World Cup had only a handful of big men. The tallest were 6-foot-11 naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche, 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo, and 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar. Then came the 6-foot-6 Ranidel de Ocampo and, of course, Pingris himself at 6-foot-5.
Now, Gilas boasts an abundance of bigs: 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, 6-foot-10 Quentin Millora-Brown, 6-foot-10 AJ Edu, 6-foot-8 Justine Baltazar, 6-foot-8 Carl Tamayo, and soon, 6-foot-8 Mike Phillips.
Even with all the talent, Pingris sees a key area where the current team could improve: cohesion.
Unlike in his time, when continental cups were the sole qualifiers to the World Cup, FIBA has now introduced the “window” system, with two games per window. Player paths have also changed; pro opportunities are no longer limited to the PBA, as Filipinos now play as imports in Korea and Japan.
“Kailangan nilang magsakripisyo siguro. Pagpumasok ka sa Gilas, sacrifice talaga ’yan eh. Kailangan paghirapan mo sana na kung na-invite ka diyan, ibigay mo yung best mo. Kailangan nilang mag-practice as a team. Hindi puwedeng one or two weeks lang,” he opined.
“Ang ginawa namin noon, three months na training at nakipag-compete kami sa iba’t ibang bansa para makuha namin yung laro ng isa’t isa. Ang problema kasi sa mga bagong player na hindi magkakakilala, kailangan nila magka-bonding para makuha nila yung laro ng isa’t isa,” he recalled, reflecting on their build-up to the 2013 Asia Cup and the World Cup.
“Ganun yung ginawa ni Coach Chot (Reyes) sa amin. Mahirap kasi hindi namin nakakasama yung family namin ng three months. Hindi kami puwede tumawag dahil bawal kami mag-text o celphone kasi focused kami sa practice,” he went on.
“Ibigay lang nila yung puso nila. Ma-invite ka lang sa practice ng Gilas, honor na yun e.”
Pingris hopes that during off-seasons, the overseas-based players will spend time in the Philippines, training with Gilas to build team chemistry.
“Kailangan nilang maging solid sa isa’t isa. Kahit gaano kabango yung pangalan mo, kapag hindi naman sakto yung ginagawa niyo sa ginagawa ng coach niyo, wala kayong mapupuntahan. Kami kasi dati, nagpra-practice kami hanggang hating-gabi na at twice-a-day pa. Malaki yung chance talaga natin. Alam naman ng bagong player ngayon na kaya natin makipag-compete kasi may height na tayo ngayon,” he added.
“Sa akin lang talaga, bigyan nilang time yung Gilas natin. Kahit sino ang lagay mo diyan, tapos one week or two weeks lang sila nag-eensayo, mahihirapan talaga sila.”
One player Pingris sees as a future cornerstone for Gilas is Mike Phillips, whom he regards as the “next Pingris” for his energy and tenacity. But Pingris notes that Phillips is even more athletic than he was.
“Sa totoo lang, mas magaling yung Mike sa akin. Athletic siya. Ang laki ng potential ng bata. Puwede ngang mag-compete sa ibang bansa, pero kailangan niyang maging wing. Kailangan more practice sa shooting,” he said about the UAAP Season 88 Finals MVP.
“Napakagaling at future natin to sa PBA or Gilas balang araw.”
Gilas Pilipinas will face the Tall Blacks on Thursday and the Boomers on Sunday, both at the SM Mall of Asia Arena — and Pingris wishes the national team nothing but the best.
