Marc Pingris says Game 4 ‘most crucial’

Take it from Magnolia forward Marc Pingris. Game 4 is the most crucial encounter of the PBA Governors Cup best-of-seven Finals and it’s happening at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.

“Kung manalo ang Alaska, back to zero at magiging best-of-three na lang,” said Pingris. “Kung manalo kami, biglang 3-1 na ang advantage namin, Hindi ko iniisip kung matapos ng Game 5 or 6 or 7, basta kami ang champion. Ang labanan sa Finals depende sa energy at depensa. Wala nang bagong play, small adjustments na lang.”

Alaska lost Games 1 and 2 but came back to take Game 3, 100-71, last Sunday. Pingris said he doesn’t foresee another Magnolia meltdown. “Sobrang flat kami at sila naman full of energy,” he said. “Si (Mike) Harris, pumutok sa labas, may gabing ganoon. Nag-tres si Harris kagaya ng ginawa namin kay Joe (DeVance) to create the mismatch noong panahon ni coach Tim (Cone). Alam namin yan, nag-three bigs sila. Basta si coach Chito (Victolero), palaging nag-re-remind sa amin na hangga’t may pag-asa ang Alaska, lalaban ‘yan. May championship tradition ang Alaska kaya hindi sila susuko. Kalimutan na namin ang nangyari sa Game 3, learn from it at get ready for Game 4.”

Pingris, 37, has been out of action since the semifinals of the Philippine Cup this season, undergoing rehab for twisting his left MCL and surgery for tearing his left ACL. The treatment took extra long as he did therapy for his MCL for two months before the operation to repair his ACL. Pingris said he felt more pain because of his MCL than his ACL. He could hardly walk without feeling discomfort and pain.

“Hindi pwedeng biglaan ang rehab sa tuhod,” he said. “Dapat 100 percent. Nagbubuhat ako, nakaka-jumpshot na. Power at balance ang trinatrabaho ko ngayon. Darating pa yung timing ng katawan. Nagpapalakas ako ng upper body at legs. Ang target namin ni Doc (George) Canlas at mga PTs ay makabalik ako during the Philippine Cup next season, sana sa kalagitnaan. Monday to Friday ako nag-re-rehab. Kung minsan, ang mga PTs na ang pumipigil sa akin kasi ayoko magpahinga.”

Pingris said he goes back a long way with Victolero. “Kuya ko si coach Chito,” he said. “Nagsama kami sa Phl Youth at naging practice player ako sa MBA team niya. Magkakilala rin sila ng manager ko si Ed (Ponceja). Kaya noong dumating si coach Chito, sobrang dali kami nagkaroon ng chemistry. May pinagsamahan na kami. Sina coach Chito at coach Tim, the same approach sa laro at nakikinig sila sa mga players. Si coach Tim, very serious, all work but after practice, OK siya makipagsama-sama. Si coach Chito, nakikipagbiruan, kung minsan even sa gitna ng explanation sa practice. Both coaches like to give confidence sa mga players, make us perform to the best of our ability.”

If he were defending Harris in the Finals, Pingris said he’d stick to him like glue. “Basta huwag siyang makalapit sa ilalim kasi ang lakas niya doon,” he said. “Patitira ko siya ng jumpshot, huwag lang layup or put-back. Doon ako napipikon at naiinis kung makatira yung import na binabantayan ko sa loob. Ang trabaho ko as import defender ay nilalabas ko sila. Mas masakit kung tirahan ka sa loob than tirahan ka sa three point line.”

Pingris said after Game 3 of the Ginebra semifinal series in the Governors Cup, he signed a two-year renewal with Magnolia. “Umiyak ako,” he said. “Kasi injured pa ako at akala ko one-year lang ang renewal ko. Sabi ko kay (team manager) Boss Alvin (Patrimonio), ‘di ako deserving but sabi niya, I earned it. Nagpasalamat ako kina (San Miguel sports director) Boss Al (Alfrancis Chua) at (Magnolia PBA governor) Boss Rene (Pardo) for the trust. Nagpapasalamat ako kay (San Miguel Corp. president) Boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang). First time ko umiyak sa contract signing. Nag-excuse ako muna, pumunta akong CR, umiyak at nagpasalamat ako kay Lord for the blessing. Pag-dumating na ang oras ko mag-retire, sana dito pa ako sa Magnolia.”