Pingris sees tougher road ahead for Star

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Coming off an 88-77 win over TNT, Star forward Marc Pingris knows that the Hotshots’ work is just getting started.

“Sinasabi ni coach sa amin na hindi kami pwede mag-celebrate dahil may gusto kaming puntahan. Ang madalas niyang sinasabi, be humble lang. May mga malalakas pa tayong kalaban,” Pingris said.

(Coach keeps telling us that we cannot celebrate yet because we’re still not where we want to be. He always tells us to be humble. We still have strong teams to face.)

The Hotshots showed that they’ve learned from their past mistakes after keeping their composure in the endgame despite blowing an early lead.

“Yung talo namin sa Ginebra and then Alaska, madalas sinasabi ni coach na kunin niyo ito bilang experience para sa next game, magamit niyo. Kaya pagpasok nung game, 100 percent kami at syempre nandoon pa rin yung defense kasi yun ang magdadala sa amin,” he said.

(Coach has been telling us to use our losses against Ginebra and Alaska as experience that will help us in our next games. That’s why when we played this game, we were playing 100-percent and we had our defense which we will really lean on.)

Starting off the gates firing, Star jumped to a 15-4 advantage and extended it to as high as 19, 69-40, early in the third quarter before a spirited TNT run led by Jayson Castro pulled the KaTropa to as close as seven.

The Hotshots, though, built just enough cushion to hold on for the win as they brought themselves back in the playoff race, forcing a five-way tie for fifth place with a 4-4 record.

With the team back on track, Pingris shared he couldn’t be more elated seeing Star’s progress this conference.

“Happy kami na every practice o every game kahit natatalo minsan, nag-iimprove kami. Doon naman talaga nag-fofocus si coach, sa depensa namin.”

(We’re happy that every practice or every game even though we lose at times, we’re still improving. It’s really the defense that coach really focuses on.)

Pingris is hoping the Hotshots will continue to grow.

“Ang sabi lang naman ni coach, maging vocal lang naman kami ag kausapin ng kausapin yung iba. Willing din naman kami makinig sa mga rookies. Kumbaga pantay-pantay lang naman yung tinginan dito eh. Kung may nadadapa na isa, kailangan buhatin mo para pag kami naman yung nadapa, kami naman yung bubuhatin nila,” he said.

(Coach has been telling us to be more vocal. We’re also willing to hear from our rookies and be there for them. If someone falls, you have to be there to pick them up.)

Star takes on Blackwater next on January 25.