Coach Ping It Is: Pingris Joins Gilas Coaching Staff due to Injury

Gilas Pilipinas is now a week away from the first window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers with a road game against Indonesia on the 23rd. While the team has been hit by multiple withdrawals of key players with Matthew Wright being the latest one to beg off from the original 24-man pool due to his ankle issues, several PBA big players have been called upon for national duty namely Justin Chua, Vic Manuel, Abu Tratter, and yes, Javee Mocon of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Unfortunately, bad news seems to be following the national team every day. And this one is as big as it can be. So, what's the bad news?

Marc Pingris, everyone's favorite Gilas player, is still recovering from a knee injury which won't allow him to play in the game on February 23. That's already a big blow for a national team who is set to miss the services of some of their main pieces due to a wide variety of reasons but for most of them, the reason is injury. 

Pingris' injury, according to the 38-year old veteran, is sustained during a practice with the Magnolia Hotshots. In addition to this, Pingris suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2018. While this is certainly a big blow to the guts for Gilas as many are hoping to see Pingris don the national colors perhaps. for the final time in his career, Gilas fans have something to be excited about.

According to interim Coach Mark Dickel, Marc Pingris will still be serving time with the national team but at a different capacity: as a member of the coaching staff. And this is actually a better position for the PInoy Sakuragi whose presence on the floor has been emphasized by Tab Baldwin as an important factor. 

According to the 3-time UAAP champion coach and former Gilas coach himself, Marc Pingris' primary role in this window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and perhaps beyond, is to close the gap between the Gilas mainstays and the PBA young stars and incoming rookies who are coming into the fold of the national team. In short, Coach Ping will be the bridge that will connect the past Gilas players and the current and upcoming Gilas players. Why is this such an important role for Pingris?

Keep in mind that the country is set to host the 2023 FIBA World Cup and by then, Gilas Pilipinas would have grown into a cohesive unit, capable of giving the home crowd something to cheer for, and perhaps more. For that to happen, the current young Gilas players must develop free-flowing chemistry on top of developing a sense of commitment in playing for the flag. Who else could Tab Baldwin could use as an example of such devotion and commitment to the flag than Marc Pingris?  

Photo is from FIBA