Pingris vows San Mig Coffee will bounce back in Game 6

San Mig Coffee’s Marc Pingris is being hounded by Rain or Shine’s Jervy Cruz (20) and Alex Nuyles (9). PBA IMAGE/NUKI SABIO

MANILA, Philippines — A game-time decision, San Mig Coffee forward Marc Pingris seemed unaffected by his eye injury Sunday.

Though Pingris recalled how his badly poked right eye bothered him throughout Game 5 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, his performance would tell otherwise.

Pingris was in his usual self, making his presence felt on both ends with his unparalleled energy and intensity, as he and James Yap shared team-best honors in points with 18 while also grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds to go along with a block in 36 minutes of play.

“Malabo lang yung paningin ko sa kabilang mata pero okay naman (My vision’s just blurred in my other eye but I’m okay),” said the do-it-all veteran Pingris. “Kailangan lang ipahinga kasi yung itim ng mata yung may gasgas (It just needs rest because the pupil has a scratch).”

“Tinitiis ko lang. Naka-focus ako sa game kanina, hindi sa mata ko (I’m just playing through it. I’m just focused on the game and not on my eye),” he added.

Pingris, who refused to sport goggles and instead opted to wear contact lens to be able to play, got inadvertently poked in the eye by Rain or Shine’s JR Quiñahan during the third quarter of Game 4 last Friday where the Mixers still found ways to steal the game, 93-90.

Pingris almost willed San Mig Coffee to the title Sunday night but his team’s efforts went for naught after the Elasto Painters lived another day thanks to Jeff Chan’s hot hand in the second half.

“We gave it a valiant effort but trying to beat this team four times that’s really a tough mountain to climb. We’re just not good enough tonight,” San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone admitted.

“Sayang, binigay namin ang lahat. Hindi para sa amin, kita naman kung paano namin dinepensahan si Paul Lee at Jeff Chan pero talagang pumapasok yung shots niya kahit may challenge na (We gave everything. It’s just not for us. We all saw how we defended Paul Lee and Jeff Chan but his (Chan) shots kept falling despite our challenge),” said Pingris.

Cone also said the two days heading into Game 6 will be crucial for his team with fatigue creeping in and to Pingris’ health.

With the Mixers still up, 3-2, in the series, Pingris said they don’t have to make much adjustments especially at the defensive end for Game 6.

“Next game kukunin namin yan, kahit gaano kahirap (we’ll get the win, no matter how hard it takes),” he vowed.

“Binigay namin lahat pero mas gutom sila ngayong gabi so babawiin namin (We gave it our all but they were the hungrier team tonight so we’ll bounce back) next game.”

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