Pinoy Sakuragi Looks Back on Gilas Stint

"He is the best epitome of a Gilas player or any national team player for that matter,"

That's how Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Jong Uichico described the now-retired Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) star and former national team player Marc Pingris.

On Saturday's episode of Bull By the Horn, the Filipino basketball player we know as Pinoy Sakuragi graced the episode. Pingris, a nine-time PBA champion, looked back at his stint as a Gilas Pilipinas player- primarily his stint playing under Coach Chot Reyes when Gilas Pilipinas finally earned a berth in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup in Spain after 40 years.

"Of course, I would like to thank Coach Chot because he gave me the opportunity to try out for Gilas. When I learned that they were letting me try out, that was the time when I was going to France to visit my dad with the family. When Coach said, 'I'm inviting you to try out,' I called my dad because it's rare that you've been given this opportunity," Pingris began.

"I grabbed the opportunity," he added.

As intimidating as he was down low in the local basketball scene, Pingris recalled what a blessing it was to be a part of the Gilas Pilipinas core.

"It's a blessing for me because as a role player in the PBA, I didn't expect that I would be picked because I know that there are better players than me in the PBA, but Coach showed the trust so I gave my best. I'm happy that I'm carrying the Philippines and not my surname on the back (of the jersey),"

While Pingris also shared that being away from his family is one thing he and every national team player has to endure every time they answer the call of the flag, he remains proud of being able to answer the call.

"I'm really blessed and I'm proud that I played for Gias,"

About his game-sealing offensive putback against Korea during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, Pingris had this to say,

"For me, there was no more tomorrow. If we lose, we get eliminated, and also the past will happen again. So, we don't want that to happen. For me, I said, 'Dead if dead,' I just want to win. We just want to win. We really showed that a Filipino's heart doesn't give up,"

When asked what advice he has to offer to the current Gilas Pilipinas pool that is preparing for the third window of the 2021 FIAB Asia Cup qualifiers, Pingris has two.

The first: "Always listen to their coach,"

The second? "Their bonding needs to be solid,"

Gilas Pilipinas kicks off the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers with a game against Korea on June 16, 2021, inside the Clark bubble in Pampanga. 

Screenshot is from the pinoyliga.com Facebook page