Purefoods needs to go back to playing unselfish ball, says Pingris
Marc Pingris of Purefoods Star Hotshoot (dark) vs Dave Marcelo of Barako Bull Energy (light). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio
MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion Purefoods started the conference like a house on fire winning its first four games but has now lost steam with a third straight defeat, the last coming from Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Sunday night.
And outspoken forward Marc Pingris said the team has lost its identity with the local players, including him, deviating away from the Purefoods brand of basketball which is centered on unselfishness.
“We’re struggling right now and it’s not because of the import but because of us, the locals,” Pingris said in Filipino. “We lost our energy on defense, our ball movement and we’re playing for the names at the back of our jerseys. Right now we’re not playing as a team.”
“We really need to get back to playing Purefoods’ game and not Marc Pingris’ game or other players’ game. We need to bring back who we are,” Pingris added.
Pingris said the players stopped playing as a team after a 78-71 loss to Rain or Shine on Valentine’s Day as every player tried to take matters into their own hands instead of sticking to their respective roles and work as one unit.
“We played really well during our first game, we ran well, we passed the ball well,” Pingris said. “But when we lost for the first time it’s like everyone wanted to do all the work for us to win and it certainly doesn’t work that way. We need all five players on the floor doing the work.”
And that’s when the losses piled up including a 95-84 setback at the hands of expansion team Kia.
Purefoods also has had three imports in just a seven-game span. Stopgap import Marcus Blakely got the Hotshots running with a 3-0 start before getting replaced by first-choice Daniel Orton.
Orton made quite a first impression but it proved to be short-lived stint for him as a miserable outing against the Carnival and a rant towards league officials and playing-coach Manny Pacquiao sent him packing. He was replaced by Denzel Bowles, whose return was spoiled by the loss to the Kings, 96-87.
But Pingris insisted the problem isn’t because of the constant change of import but rather within the locals.
“We all know how Bowles work and it’s up to us locals to find a way bring back our game.”
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