Any moment now, the final lineup tasked to bring the Philippines back to the Olympic stage since the 1972 Munich Games, will be known.
But for the veterans on the team like Marc Pingris and LA Tenorio, who could be in their final tour of duty for flag and country, they’re more than willing to do anything just to help Gilas Pilipinas even if that means getting cut.
“Para sa akin, kung sino man yung ma-la-lineup siguro susuportahan na lang ng bawat isa. Ako kahit hindi ako ma-lineup nandoon yung support ko sa kanila, sisigaw pa rin ako para sa kanila. Kahit nga gawin akong practice player okay lang sakin,” said Marc Pingris, a member of Gilas since 2013.
“Ang importante kasi dito, kung sino talaga yung makakatulong sa team ngayon. Wag na tayong magpa-baby baby or sino yung mas magaling. Ang importante talaga dito kung sino yung makakatulong sa bayan natin,” the 34-year-old Pingris said.
While many would think the players would kill for a spot, the players themselves feel the only competition between them is just all about challenging one another to be better.
“I don’t see it as a competition. Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga interviews, I’m not here to get any spot sa guards position. I know the capabilities of all the guards here and kahit sino i-lineup dito, okay. Nakita naman natin lahat ng players dito na sobrang deserving lahat sila,” said Tenorio, who was the MVP of the 2012 Jones Cup after leading the country to a gold medal.
Same goes for Ryan Reyes, a nine-year PBA veteran who could be headed for his first national team stint.
“It’s all healthy competition,” Reyes told INQUIRER.net on Tuesday after giving Gilas some quality minutes during a scrimmage against Iran at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City. “We are all out there in practice competing because if we’re not going hard against each other, then we’re not helping each other out.”
“I don’t think anyone is concerned about making the final lineup. We’re just concerned helping the team get better as a whole, as a unit. Personally, whether I make the final lineup or not, I’m just out there to help, give my all and someway make the team get better day by day,” Reyes said.
Fourteen will make the roster, but only 12 will get a chance to play with the two slots on the reserved list. Only naturalized center Andray Blatche is shoo in and being a team that’s always at a disadvantage when it comes to size, 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo, the country’s most dominant player today, may be assured of a place as well leaving only 10 spots available for 12 players.
National team head coach Tab Baldwin said the decision as to who will make the cut will be announced before training camp shifts to Europe. Gilas leaves for Greece on Friday and won’t be back until late in June.
Pingris said every player in the pool is ready for whatever news the announcement makes.
“Ready naman kaming lahat. Hindi kami nagpapataasan ng ihi dito para lang ma-lineup. Para sa akin, kailangan lang magtulungan.”
Tenorio admits getting a spot with all the talent around is a tall order. But the Ginebra playmaker said making the team is not his top priority.
“To be honest, talagang mahirap to get that spot but for me, I’m here to help the young ones based on my experience not only in Asia but also in the world so yung experience ang matutulong ko sa mga bata kung sino man ang maglalaro sa Olympic qualifier.”
There’s nothing certain at this point as to who among Pingris, Tenorio, Reyes, Jeff Chan, Marcio Lassiter, Terrence Romeo, Ray Parks, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro and Japeth Aguilar will comprise the lineup.
Tenorio, though, is sure of one thing.
“Whoever’s gonna be in the lineup, it’s gonna be a competitive and talented one that we’ll get to see in July.”