Five stars out of smart Gilas: MVP sad but says thanks

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan expressed sadness yesterday on the decisions of several players opting out of the national training pool for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Sept. 23-Oct. 3 in Changsha, China.

“Sad day for Phil basketball. But thank you to the team which helped the national cause. Laban Pilipinas. Puso,” said Pangilinan on his Twitter account @iamMVP.

Pangilinan bared his feelings as another Gilas veteran Marc Pingris formally begged off from joining the team that will vie for an Olympic berth in the coming Asian meet.

Pingris finally showed up in the Gilas practice at the Meralco Gym yesterday afternoon to inform coach Tab Baldwin of his decision.

“Mahal ko yung Gilas, kaso may mga bagay na ‘di natin control (I love the national team but there are things that are out of my control),” a teary-eyed Pingris told sportswriters.

“It’s a tragedy. Ping has great passion for the country; that’s clear to me. But he won’t be in the team,” rued Baldwin.

The current pool has no representative from the powerhouse ball clubs of San Miguel Corp. in San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Star.

During his recent vacation in France, Pingris had said he’s making himself available to the national pool upon his return to the country.

But then came his agent Ed Ponceja telling sportswriters that the 6-foot-4 forward is opting out of the national pool so he could concentrate with his PBA mother ball club now under a new coach in Jason Webb.

LA Tenorio had begged off earlier while Junemar Fajardo is out due to a foot injury.

Pingris, Tenorio and Fajardo were all key members of Gilas Pilipinas that punched a ticket to the FIBA World Championship in Spain last year.

Now also out of the Phl team to the world joust are Rain or Shine’s Jeff Chan and Paul Lee.