Marc Pingris on Slaughter and Ginebra's deep bench: 'Kinain kami ng buong buo'

DESPITE a deflating 29-point loss in Game Two, bruising forward Marc Pingris remains confident San Mig’s rich championship experience can help the team recover in time for Sunday’s Game Three of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal showdown against Ginebra.

The 6-5 Pingris said everyone inside a gloomy San Mig dugout at the Smart Araneta Coliseum was devastated after the Mixers got drubbed, 64-95, by the Gin Kings on Friday night, but that doesn’t mean they’ll just roll over and surrender.

“Kami naman, matagal na rin namang magkakasama dito so alam na rin namin kung paano laruin ang ganitong sitwasyon, basta naman huwag lang kami magpabaya,” Pingris said after the blowout loss before more than 19,000 pro-Ginebra fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Offensively, the Mixers were just completely out of sync, shooting a low 33.8 percent from the field as they struggled against the Gin Kings’ zone defense.

“Maalat lang talaga yung mga tira ng shooters namin. Eh siguro napaghandaan din talaga nila (Gin Kings) 'yung game kaya lumabas sila na maraming bala,” noted Pingris, who managed to finish with 15 points but grabbed just four rebounds.

Ginebra won the battle off both boards, 55-32.

“Pati second five nila gumagawa rin eh. Eh yun ang di namin napaghandaan tapos pati sa rebound talagang lamang sila. Kinain kami ng buong buo,” he added.

Pingris said Ginebra rookie slotman Greg Slaughter set the tone for the Gin Kings’ Game Two win by playing aggressive on offense and defense, leading to the lopsided win for the league’s most popular ballclub.

“Swerte din ni Slaugter, lahat ng bato niya pumapasok eh. Saka magaling din talaga na player,” said the Pangasinan-born Pingris.

Pingris is hopeful that San Mig’s big men Yancy de Ocampo and Rafi Reavis could make the quick adjustment in Game Three as they try to contain Slaughter in Game Three come Sunday.