Pingris happy to see top players finally part of national team

Marc Pingris has been part of the national team long enough to know that Team Pilipinas is heading in the right direction.

The 36-year-old Pingris, an eight-time PBA champion and two-time Finals MVP, has won four gold medals with national basketball team but he has to skip the team’s latest campaign with an ACL injury.

But Pingris still keeps a close eye on Team Pilipinas and he knows that the squad is in good hands under new head coach Yeng Guiao.

“You can see that the strong players in the PBA are willing to play for the national team and I think this is what the team needs to improve,” said Pingris in Filipino Friday at Mall of Asia Arena after he participated in Stephen Curry’s Asia Tour that Under Armour organized.

“We need those players to play for the Philippines and to help the team and all they need is just a little bit of sacrifice.”

With several key players set to miss the crucial fourth window of the Fiba World Cup qualifiers, new names who have been tapped to join the pool under Guiao after being given a release by their mother clubs.

Eight players from the San Miguel group are part of the lates pool with San Miguel lending Christian Standhardinger, Alex Cabagnot, and Marcio Lassiter and Ginebra sending Scottie Thompson, Greg Slaughter, and Aguilar.

Purefoods, meanwhile, has Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang suiting up for the national team.

“As much joy as it is playing in the PBA, nothing will compare to playing for the country,” said Pingris. “It’s really a different playing when you’re representing the Philippines.”