Veteran Gilas Pilipinas forward Marc Pingris of Purefoods Star Hotshots announced on Wednesday that he would finally be available to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas. The announcement was welcome positively by the fans of the Philippine national basketball team, after Marc Pingris earlier withdrew from the Gilas national pool.
The 33-year-old Marc Pingris is considered as one of the leader of the Gilas Pilipinas and a key player in the Philippines’ historic run in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship wherein the country won the silver medal and secured a spot in the previous FIBA World Cup held in Spain.
In an official statement from SMC, Marc Pingris was quoted as saying “Despite my earlier pronouncement not to join and give others a chance to play for the country, Purefoods management has asked me to reconsider my decision. I talked to my wife and we agreed. In the end, it was pride and honor in representing the Philippines that prevailed over me,” Pingris said in a statement from SMC.
Marc Pingris noted that he is grateful for the management’s support and if the Philippine team still needs him, he promise to go all out for the country in the FIBA Asia Championship as the country aims to gain a slot in the Rio Olympics next year.
The “Pinoy Sakuragi” of Philippine basketball already showed up in the national team practice last Saturday at Meralco Gym and was reportedly in tears as he met with Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin and his former Gilas teammates.
Players must sacrifice for the glory of the country. Good decision mark….