"'Pag ginusto mo maglaro, maglalaro ka para sa bansa."
"May napatunayan ka na ba sa sarili mo? May napatunayan ka na ba sa PBA, sa Gilas para bayaran ka?"
These were the cutting remarks made by former Gilas Pilipinas player Marc Pingris when asked about the two players who reportedly wanted to be paid, including one who allegedly asked for the moon, to suit up for the 19th Asian Games.
Pingris was asked about it in the PBA Motoclub vlog uploaded on Friday. Previously, another former national team member, Willie Miller, didn't mince words about the matter.
Pingris, though, had gentle words of advice at the start.
"Minsan lang dumating 'yung opportunity na 'to. Minsan lang tayo bumata. Kahit anong gawin niyo, tatanda rin kayo. 'Pag binigyan kayo ng opportunity na 'yan, i-grab niyo 'yan," he said.
"Maraming mai-inspire na mga tao, na mga bata na gusto ring maglaro sa Gilas balang araw instead of nagda-drugs. Ibubuhos nila sa basketball kasi nakikita nila 'yung idol nila," he added.
Of course, Pingris would know. The kid who used to sleep inside sacks at the market while accompanying his mother at work would know. The kid who grew up playing street ball in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan would know.
When then-Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes was getting athletes to play for the national team ahead of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, it was Pingris who called and asked to join.
"Tinawagan ko si coach at sabi ko, 'Pasensya na at hindi ako makasipot pero gusto ko talaga diyan. Gusto ko kasama diyan,'" Pingris recounted in the 11 Days in August book.
So, yes, Pingris would know.
"Manalo, matalo, 'pag naglaro sa Gilas, moment mo 'yun, memory mo. Kahit natalo kami, binigay ko 'yung best ko," he further explained.
So, the idea of asking to be paid to play for flag and country certainly struck a nerve for Pingris, whose defensive efforts during the 2013 "Curse of Korea game" helped seal the Philippines' first trip back to the FIBA World Cup for the first time in four decades.
"Sino ba naman si Jimmy Alapag sa player na 'yun? Alam ko magagaling na player 'yung mga 'to. Pero yung mga legend, 'di nagpabayad mga 'to," Pingris said as he also spoke of LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, and Junemar Fajardo.
"Tapos 'yung mga player, magpapabayad kasi magaling ka? May napatunayan ka na ba sa sarili mo? May napatunayan ka na ba sa PBA, sa Gilas para bayaran ka?" he asked.
Pingris made it clear though that playing under contract for a club is completely different to playing for country. He also made it clear that as national team players, they signed waivers that the federation would take care of them if they got injured or sick.
"'Pag ginusto mong maglaro, maglalaro ka para sa bansa," he said.
During the Gilas Pilipinas 2.0 era, it would always be Pingris leading the Philippine battle cry during huddles, "Laban Pilipinas! Puso!"
"Kaya nga sinisigaw, 'Puso!' 'Yun yung puhunan namin, hindi pera," Pingris added. "Hindi 'Gilas Pilipinas, pera.'"
(MDB)