IT’S PINGRIS TIME!
Coming to the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Marc Pingris had a hunch that things won’t go their way.
Needing an Alaska win over GlobalPort and Star winning against Blackwater to snatch the twice-to-beat advantage, the high-energy forward knew that they will somehow end at the lower half of the final eight.
And true to his instincts, Alaska did lose to GlobalPort to give Batang Pier a place in the top 4.
Although the Hotshots’ 87-82 win over the Elite allowed them to go up to 6-5, it was only good for the number five spot, pitting them against GlobalPort in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals with a twice-to-win disadvantage.
Pingris admitted that the turn of events just motivates him and the whole team to strive in the playoffs.
“Gusto namin sila bawian, pero dapat one game at a time. Di pa kami nananalo sa twice-to-beat kaya malaking challenge sa amin dito. Makapasok kami dito, ok na,” he said.
Against Blackwater though, the Hotshots struggled early.
“Kanina, wala kaming energy nung simula dahil nanghinayang kami sa (resulta ng) first game. Gusto namin tapusin agad yung laro. Pero di ganun kadali kalaban ang Blackwater. Every game kahit sino ang kalaban mo, dapat irespeto mo pa rin. Para lang din na lumaki yung ulo namin kanina at nagising na lang kami nung second half,” Pingris said. “Sana maging lesson sa amin kasi every game, kailangan namin manalo, kailangan na ilabas lahat.”
After a 1-4 start to the conference, Star is happy to make it to the next round. But being the experienced team that they are, the Hotshots want to make a statement that they still can defend the Governors’ Cup title.
“Masaya naman pero di pa enough yung pinapakita namin. Mahirap din kalaban ang GlobalPort at yun ang paghahandaan namin. At least, yung depensa namin bumabalik,” Pingris said.
And this early, Star is bracing for the youth revolution of GlobalPort.
“Mga bata yan, so takbuhan. Pero sabi nga ni Marqus (Blakely), wala pa silang experience. Kami andun na, pero kailangan i-maintain yung laro at wag mag-collapse late sa game. Kaya dapat focus lang sa practice,” said Pingris.
“Kailangan makuha namin yung hinihingi ni coach. Wala munang tawanan. Pingris time sa Friday.” (RL)
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