That’s why he’s a national team legend.
Why did Gilas Pilipinas team officials Ricky Vargas and Alfrancis Chua feel the need to talk about a couple of players who wanted to cash in when they were being recruited for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China?
Some hoop fans were enraged, eager to know the names of the two cagers who were asking for the moon. On the other side of the fence were guys, saying that it was no longer necessary for Vargas and Chua to bring up the issue since the Philippines had already won the gold medal.
In a YouTube video, uploaded by the PBA Motoclub on October 13, Gilas icon Marc Pingris took a stance on the matter and in the process, revealed some of the sacrifices he willingly made for a chance to play for the flag.
“Bakit nila nilabas ‘yon (issue)? Dahil ngayon lang siguro nangyari ‘yon,” Ping said.
“Kami dati, wala naming nangyayaring mga gano’n. Hindi kami humingi. May commitment pa nga ako sa daddy ko, papunta kami ng France. May ticket na kami, kinansel ko dahil napasama ako sa try-out. Try-out pa lang ‘yon,” he elaborated.
Canceling the trip was especially a huge deal because the PBA legend had yet to meet his estranged French father until that point. They would be reunited the following year, in 2014. Earlier in the interview, Pingris revealed how much allowance he received during his Gilas days.
“Wala kaming suweldo. May allowance kami, pang-gas lang, pangkain. Wala pang 1,000 pesos. Mga 300 nga lang ‘yon,” the nine-time PBA champion bared.
Despite all the challenges, Ping was clear in saying that playing for the national squad was one of his storied career’s best moments.
“Ang sarap maglaro ng Gilas. Kahit wala kang suweldo, ang sarap ‘nung nandoon ka, naka-lineup ka. Sa dami ng players sa Pilipinas, isa ka sa napili na maglaro doon,” Pingris stressed.
(CF)