Gilas Pilipinas forward Marc Pingris clenches his fists after beating Iran on Monday. Photo from Fiba.com
Getting a full squad together remains to be the biggest obstacle for Gilas Pilipinas.
Only thirteen players showed up when the team returned to full training on Monday at Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Ateneo, and Marc Pingris knows that the team needs all hands on deck to achieve the improbable.
“Mabuo lang talaga, mapaghahandaan namin ng maayos. Marami pa kaming kulang eh,” he said.
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Admittedly sluggish after the two-month break from the Gilas Monday practices, Pingris said that the squad is happy to be back on the court.
“Masaya naman, pero nagkapaan kami ulit kasi ang tagal namin di nakapag-practice,” he said. “Nandoon pa rin yung mga plays na tinatakbo namin. Kinausap kami ni coach na kahit pagod kami sa practice sa mga mother teams namin, kailangan mag-focus para sa bayan. Kahit pagod yung mga players, binigay namin yung makakaya namin.”
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The Philippines may not be the favorites for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila in July, but that doesn’t mean that Gilas will stop trying.
Pingris puts his full trust in coach Tab Baldwin to get the squad fully prepared for the tall task of upsetting its first two foes, France and New Zealand, in front of their hometown fans.
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“Knowing coach Tab, alam nya yung mga players sa ibang bansa. Mas malalakas yung kalaban namin. Sabi ni coach, kailangan namin iimagine na binabantayan namin sila, kung sino ang dumedepensa sa amin para pagdating sa laro, kabisado na namin,” he said.
“Kaya yan. Nagawa nga natin sa Iran eh,” continued Pingris. “Mas matagal yung panahon para makapag-ensayo kami ngayon compared dun sa one month, two months training before. Alam kong mahirap ngayon kasi mas malalaki ito eh, pero nandyan na yan. Kailangan lang paghandaan, puso lang.”