WHEN ONE talks about the most iconic Pingris moments in the PBA, you can easily include the 2014 Governor's Cup Finals series' Game Five at the Big Dome.
That thrilling night, San Mig Coffee utility staff Jun Rillo was slammed with a technical foul after he tried to protest a lane violation call on Marc Pingris.
Rillo used his fingers to measure the distance between Pingris' feet and the baseline, and it was from there where he earned the nickname 'Boy Sukat'.
Despite the interruption, the Mixers won the series against Rain or Shine and bagged a season Grand Slam.
While emotions ran high that day, the major players can afford to laugh about it now. During his jersey retirement with PJ Simon last Christmas Day, Pingris and Rillo took the chance to recreate that iconic scene one last time.
Pingris salutes utility staff like 'Boy Sukat' in retirement ceremony
While it's only a small part of the vet's storied 16-year career, that event for him, is unforgettable for Ping... especially because of his friendship with Kuya Jun.
"Ahhh, nilapitan niya ako. Sabi sa akin, 'Ping, picture naman tayo, ito-throwback ko 'to.' Syempre, sabi ko 'tara sige'," Pingris told SPIN Life.
"'Yan sila kuya, mga ball boy namin, mababait yan, and hanggang ngayon, masasabi ko na malaking bahagi 'yan ng career ko, mahal namin 'yan sila," he said.
During Pingris' retirement announcement, Rillo was among those who posted his own tribute on social media.
"Salamat Marc Pingris sa hindi masusukat na laki ng iyong puso on and off the court," he wrote.
In a previous interview, too, then-San Mig coach Tim Cone said that in Purefoods' culture, they try their best to include everyone else in the team, even the staff.
“We always try to encourage our guys to stay in the game, even our utility staff, to stay involved, feel that you are part of the team, feel that they are important,” Cone said.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
