What’s up with Pingris

It was refreshing to catch up with PBA legend Marc Pingris who was the guest analyst on the SEAG Network’s PBA Philippine Cup finals primer aired an hour before the Game 1 tipoff last Wednesday. Pingris, 40, saw action in 15 years for the Purefoods franchise, playing on nine championship teams and bagging finals MVP honors twice. He was on two Gilas squads that took the silver at the FIBA Asia Cup and a mainstay on the national side at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Pingris picked Magnolia over TNT to win the series in six or seven with the Game 1 winner gaining a 70 percent chance to clinch. As it turned out, TNT beat Magnolia, 88-70, in the opener. Both teams are hungry to bag the title, he said, and they’ll leave it all on the floor. Pingris said the All-Filipino crown is the most prestigious, different from the other championships with imports. Three of his titles came in the Philippine Cup. “’Yan ang most prestigious at meron ring na makukuha pag manalo,” he said. “Si Paul (Lee), meron ng three championships pero walang All-Filipino. Sina Troy (Rosario) at RR (Pogoy) wala pa ngang championship, ni isa. Si Calvin may isang championship pero hindi All-Filipino. Lahat sila magpapakamatay to win the title.”

If Magnolia pockets the title, Pingris said the finals MVP will be either Abueva or Ian Sangalang. “Palagi ko silang tine-text,” he said. “Hanga ako kay Calvin. Nawala man si Pingris sa Magnolia, nandoon naman si Calvin na doble ang binibigay kaysa sa akin. Sabi ko sa kanila, bale wala ang talent kung walang puso.” If TNT wins, he said either Pogoy or Rosario will take the finals MVP trophy.

Pingris said he has high respects for both coaches. He worked under TNT coach Chot Reyes at Gilas and Magnolia coach Chito Victolero in the PBA. “Ang advantage ni coach Chot ay experience at ang advantage ni coach Chito ay dating player siya sa PBA kaya naiintindihan niya ang laro from a personal perspective,” he said. “Natandaan ko sa Gilas tryouts, sabi sa akin ni coach Chot, ang contribution ko ay depensa at rebounding. Pakita ko raw sa team na kaya kong gawin ‘yun. Sa training camp namin sa Lithuania, nagkaroon kami ng bonding. Si coach Chot, kinausap kami one on one, interesado siyang makilala kami as a person, saan kami nanggaling, parents, brothers, sisters namin, kung anong gagawin namin after basketball. Hindi siya demanding sa curfew o restrictions pero pag umpisa ng practice, dapat handa kang mapagod.”

Pingris said he takes his hat off to the PBA family for its dedication to play out the season for the fans despite the pandemic. “Malaking sakripisyo ng mga players, coaches at staff na ilang buwan hindi nila kasama pamilya,” he said. “Ito’y handog ng PBA sa fans.” Pingris revealed that last August, he tested himself in trying to come back after sitting out two years rehabbing from injuries, even with Magnolia’s 3x3 team but eventually decided to hang up his sneakers.

Pingris said he continues to watch the PBA on TV and stay in touch with the players. He’s enjoying quality time with wife Danica and their two children at home. Pingris was involved in the filming of the show “My Hometown Is GOAT” which airs on AXN starting at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 4. In the episode on northern Philippines, Pingris was on location to talk about his hometown of Pozzorubio, Pangasinan and led the PBA Moto Club in venturing to La Union on motorbikes with JC Intal, Jayjay Helterbrand and Rico Maierhofer.