PINGRIS: NEVER LOSE FOCUS
Though defeated, Marc Pingris said that emotions got the best of the Purefoods Star Hotshots on the heels of their Game 2 defeat to Talk ‘N Text Monday.
“Nung naging pisikal yung depensa nila, parang nanggigil kami sa opensa naman. Nawala kami sa focus. Gusto na lang rin naming mamisikal. Sabi ni coach, maglaro lang kami at kalimutan na yung mga tawag ng referee. Kumbaga, walang wala talaga yung energy namin kanina,” he said.
“Nakontrol nila yung rebounds. Nawala rin yung aggressiveness sa opensa. Parang si Denzel (Bowles) na lang ang nagtatrabaho. Di kami nakatulong, at yun yung malaking problema namin.”
Though for a number of times the heated confrontations between the Star Hotshots and the Tropang Texters almost went over the line, with Pingris himself being trash-talked by import Ivan Johnson, the hardworking forward knows what’s best for him.
“Ayaw ko ma-fine. Gusto ko lang manalo,” he said in jest.
“Handa naman kami sa physicality, pero di naman yung makikipagsuntukan na kami.
Basta kami focus kami sa laro. Tapos na yan at iiwanan na namin yun,” added the Pozorrubio, Pangasinan native.
Pingris is hoping for a better bounce back effort from the Hotshots on Thursday to atone for the Game 2 meltdown, saying, “Ang pinakamasakit dito ay pag natalo ka. Ibabalik na lang namin sa kanila kasi pag nanalo kami, masaya na kami.”
And he’s doing this while playing hurt, as he still nurses the sprain he incurred in the series opener.
“Meron pa rin akong sakit na nararamdaman pero laro lang. Sayang kasi andito na eh. Minsan lang makarating dito sa semis, so laro lang pag kaya. Pag hindi, upo,” Pingris said. (RL)
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