FROM the bottom all the way to the top.
Marc Pingris can’t help but look back at the path San Mig had taken en route to winning the PLDT myDSL-PBA Philippine Cup crown on Wednesday night at the expense of Rain or Shine, 93-87, in the title-clinching Game Six at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Not lost on Pingris was the fact the Mixers were, at one time in the all-Filipino conference, mired near the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 (win-loss) record in the eliminations.
“Gusto kong magpasalamat kay Lord. Grabe 'yung pinagdaanan namin, galing kami sa 1-5 (win-loss record). Nakita ko sa mga teammates ko kung paano sila nagtrabaho kaya siguro deserve din namin (ang championship) kasi pinaghirapan din talaga namin ito,” said the energetic forward as he emerged from a joyous San Mig dugout.
“Mahirap ang pinagdaanan namin lalo na nung nagka-injury sina Peter (Simon), si Joe (Devance), ako, pero kami naman laban lang kami hangga’t makakakaya namin trabaho lang. Wala naman kami kailangang patunayan sa mga tao, ang gusto lang namin maglaro at manalo.”
No wonder Pingris savors the franchise’s first back-to-back championship and 11th overall since the team first joined the pro league in 1988.
“Oo naman masarap ang panalong ito, pag nagtrabaho ka ang sarap kumain ng pinaghirapan mo, 'di ba?” said the Gilas Pilipinas mainstay.
“Basta pag nagsama-sama kami magtrabaho, makikita mo kung gaano kami kagutom (sa panalo) wala naman nagbabago sa amin. Trabaho pa rin kahit champion kami last conference, trabaho pa rin,” he added.
Pingris, who finished the match with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists, credited his teammates for their success.
“Kaya napakasarap ng panalong ito, galing kami sa ibaba tapos andito na kami, champion.”
And despite winning another title, that won’t stop Pingris from chasing another one.
“Ako wish ko lang na 'wag lumaki ang ulo namin. Huwag kami magbago patuloy kami na mag-work hard, then hopefully babalik kami sa next conference. Wish ko lang makabalik kami sa semis at Finals.”
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