Gilas Pilipinas had a special fan in attendance during their game against Singapore on Saturday night — none other than national team icon Marc Pingris.
Now a spectator during the games of the National Team, the former heart of Gilas Pilipinas cheered his heart out for his former team while also giving advice to the new faces of the team from his seat in the patron section.
His competitive genes wanted him to step on the court to face the Singaporeans, though.
“Oo nga eh feeling ko kanina, sana nandito ako, po-postehan ko itong mga ‘to,” quipped the 6-foot-4 bruiser after Gilas’ 113-66 win.
“As a player, talagang mami-miss mo ‘yung mga ganyang pagkakataon eh, yung mga bonding niyo as a team, kung ano ang mga kalokohan na ginagawa niyo.”
But after watching the new Gilas batch live for the first time, the 35-year-old, who campaigned for the Philippines from 2013-16, could not help but be disappointed with the energy Gilas showed.
“Baka mga nasa four or five,” Pingris answered when pressed about giving a grade to the energy the team showed tonight.
“Nandun yung pusong maglaro, pero hindi yun yung one hundred percent.”
For the future Hall of Famer, the team’s confidence heading into the game might have played a factor.
“Kung tutuusin, ‘pag talagang seseryosohin nila, baka twenty points lang [ma-score] ng kalaban.
“As a player kasi no, pag nakita mong di gaanong kalakas yung team, parang hindi mo ibibigay yung one hundred percent mo. Iisipin nila, kaya natin ‘yan, lie-low lang tayo. Ganun yung mindset ng player. Pero ‘pag natapat mong malakas, example, pag Korea or China ‘yan, lahat yan mag-di-dive sa bola eh,” the three-time Defensive Player of the Year furthered.
“Yun yung gusto kong sabihin na kahit di malakas yung team, [kailangan] ibigay talaga nila yung 100 percent nila.”
And he hopes that the scolding the team received from coach Chot Reyes gets into Gilas’ head before facing Malaysia tomorrow.
