Pingris vows San Mig rebound in 2014

Originally posted on the PBA website on January 4, 2014

After winning a championship, the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers seem to have crashed back to earth all of a sudden.

Sitting at 3-7, the Tim Cone-mentored squad is left to rue its shortcomings as the year ended. The disappointing losses came first from rival Alaska, an 88-75 letdown last December 27, and two days after, a 101-77 beating from Rain or Shine.

Cone was so disappointed in their game against the E-Painters that he just stood on the sidelines and gave his players the silent treatment.

And the emotional Marc Pingris knows this.

“Sobrang nasasaktan na si coach sa mga nangyayari,” the Gilas mainstay said. “Gusto kong tulungan yung team, lalo na si coach kaya kailangan na talaga naming bumawi.”

“Mas masakit yung nangyari ngayon kaysa sa tuhod ko eh. Ang hirap din na nakaupo ka lang at di nakakatulong. I hope pag nakabawi kami ng isa, giginhawa din yung pakiramdam nya.”

Pingris is putting behind his knee injury just to bring the Super Coffee Mixers back to their  winning ways. But he knows it wouldn’t be easy.

“Kumbaga sa kin, every game, importante ngayon na makakuha kami ng panalo. Andun pa rin yung goal naming makapasok ng semis at kung papalarin, sa Finals,” he said.

Injuries have also taken their toll on San Mig, one of the reasons why the team has struggled to find its groove this conference.

“Ang hirap eh. May player na dumadating tapos may mga players na mai-injure. Parang pag nakabalik yung isa, yung isa naman yung mawawala,” Pingris said. “Pero ang sa amin, di kami gi-give up. Ibibigay pa rin namin yung best namin sa next game. Isa-isa lang at darating tayo dyan.”

But Pingris vowed to bounce back big this new year.

“I promise na makakabalik kami at makakaabot kami ng semis. Dapat lang maging 100% kami lahat. Yun yung prayer ko kay Lord, na sa 2014, sana makumpleto kami sa game,” he said.

“Basta makakabawi kami. Promise yan.”

*****

POSTSCRIPT: On their first game for the year 2014, San Mig Coffee did bounce back big, as they beat Ginebra, 83-79, last Sunday. The win placed them at a five-way tie at the fifth spot with Barako Bull, Meralco, Alaska, and GlobalPort, all with a 4-7 card. Pingris finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.