Marc Pingris named PBA Governors’ Cup Finals MVP

MANILA, Philippines—With the championship at San Mig Coffee’s fingertips, Marc Pingris, who was about to deliver the last points at the free throw line in the waning seconds of Game 7 against Petron Blaze, clenched his fists as MVP chants rained down on him and through the walls of the historical Araneta Coliseum Friday night.

Pingris had his fingerprints all over Game 7 with 19 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks apart from his defense and hustle that the stat sheet wouldn’t show as he was named the 2013 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals MVP.

“Unang-una nagpapasalamat ako kay Lord. Iniisip ko lang talaga laro lang (First, I thanked the Lord. I was only thinking of our game),” said the six-foot-six center Pingris.

“He was all heart,” said San Mig Coffee head coach Tim Cone referring to Pingris. “He did all the work. Today he played really well in this deciding game.”

The dynamic Pingris averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game throughout the championship series, where the Mixers rallied from 1-2 down.

It was Pingris’ second Finals MVP honors after winning the award the first time in the 2006 Philippine Cup.

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