The 2023 PBA Draft class is so stacked that some are already calling it one of the most talented batches of PBA aspirants in history. On paper, it really looks that way. But labeling it as the best draft class ever is a different story. Mention the idea to PBA legend Marc Pingris and he’ll immediately reject it like he was swatting shots back in the day!
In a recent upload by the PBA Motoclub YouTube channel, the Gilas icon got a little fired up when he remembered reading a write-up that crowned the 2023 class as the strongest.
“Nabasa ko ito raw ‘yung drafting na pinakamalakas ‘yung mga nagpa-draft. Sorry, sorry pero hindi,” Pingris said while the PBA Motoclub were in New Zealand for an exhibition game.
Indirectly, the 41-year-old retired PBA cager made a case for his batchmates to claim the title. By simply enumerating the names of the 2004 lottery picks, Ping seemed to have the other members of the PBA Motoclub convinced.
“Number 1 [pick] si Rich Alvarez, number 2 si James [Yap], number 3 ako, Ranidel [de Ocampo] number 4, Sonny Thoss number 5,” the three-time PBA Defensive Player winner said.
Former PBA MVP Jayjay Helterbrand was undoubtedly impressed after hearing Ping out.
“Puro Hall of Famers,” Helterbrand commented.
During the discussion, however, things got even more heated as the guys recalled Alvarez’s benching in what should’ve been the former Ateneo Blue Eagles MVP’s PBA debut. Yep, Pingris pulled no punches.
“Tatanga ‘yung coach na ‘yun a, sorry. First pick, Rich Alvarez, hindi mo ginamit. Tatanga-tanga na coach ‘yun, 'di ba?”
The coach Pingris was referring to was former Shell mentor John Moran. For some reason, Moran thought Alvarez was not yet PBA-ready at that time. From the outside, looking in, the American tactician seemed to have made a huge mistake. When Leo Austria took over the team, Alvarez blossomed and won Rookie of the Year honors at the end of the season.
(CF)