MANILA, Philippines — “Hustle” has been Marc Pingris’ business card in the game of basketball. We’ve seen this in his PBA games. But more importantly, during Gilas’ International campaigns.
And after seeing the new iteration of the national team take the court on the second day of SEABA action, the 6-foot-6 cager can’t help but give his take.
Especially after his former mentor emphasized that Gilas was unable to sustain their opening night “hustle stats” against Singapore.
READ: Amid dominant Gilas wins, Chot stresses importance of 'hustle stats'
“Baka nasa ‘4,’ ‘5,’” the former national team forward said when asked to grade the Philippines’ hustle approach on Saturday night. “Andun ‘yung pusong maglaro. Pero hindi ‘yon 100 percent.”
“Kung sa tutusin—pag talagang seseryosohin nila, baka 20 lang ‘yung kalaban. Ganoon ‘yun eh,” he added.
Pingris carefully paused during the chat, picking his words well. But he gamely explained his assessment.
“As a player kasi, ‘no, pag nakita mong ‘di gaanong kalakas ‘yung team, parang hindi mo ibibigay yung 100 percent mo. ‘Kaya natin ‘yan,’ ‘Lie-low lang tayo,’. Ganun ang mind-set,” he said.
But he is also aware that if Gilas were playing the likes of China and Korea, every trooper on the squad would be “diving for the ball.”
“‘Yun ‘yung gusto kong sabihin—na kahit ‘di malakas ‘yung team, ibigay talaaga nila ‘yung 100 pecrcent nila,” he furthered. “Doon mag start ‘yan eh, Madadala nila ‘yan—sa practice man or hindi man malakas ‘yung kalaban.”
“Kailangan talaga na ngayon palang masanay na sila kasi iba talaga pag FIBA Asia na,” Pingris added.
Pingris served Reyes and the national team in the 2013 FIBA Asia, the 2014 World Cup and the Asian Games. He then went on to play for the Tab Baldwin-mentored team that competed in the 2015 FIBA Asia and 2016 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“Kulang pa pero happy naman tayo kasi binibigay nila yung best nila. Sa next game, ibigay nila yung 100 percent nila. Parang practice sa umaga ‘yan eh—kapag ‘di ka nagpractice ng 100 percent, hindi mo malalabas ‘yung 100 percent sa laro,” the 35-year-old veteran noted.
“‘Di ko alam kung nag-iingat sila. Baka sinabihan din sila ni coach, ‘di ba?” he offered. “Pero I know coach Chot. Kumbaga kailangan ipakita mo sa kalaban mo na, you know, ‘di kita bibigyan ng pagkakataon maka-shoot. Ganoon si coach Chot.”
“So next game—bukas—tignan natin. Malalaman [natin],” he closed.
Pingris says Gilas needs to show more hustle
Former Gilas Pilipinas member Marc Pingris after the national team's rout of Singapore in the 2017 SEABA Championships' Day 2 of action. | Philstar.com Photo