Hurting Pingris ready to die for flag, country

MANILA, Philippines - Facing much taller matchup and relying on one healthy leg, Marc Pingris gutted it out to put in a performance of his life against the South Koreans.

When it finally dawned on him in the post-game interview, the man known for his rugged stand was overtaken by emotion and wept unabashedly.

“Puso lang talaga ito (It’s really about heart),” said Pingris on what carried Gilas Pilipinas to defy the odds and write a new chapter in Philippine basketball.

“To all those who support us, who pray for us, you are the ones who give us the strength. It’s really about heart,” Pingris also said in Filipino.

“We do this for the country,” he stressed. “We make a lot of sacrifices here. In the PBA, we play for pay. Here, we’re not paid, but we’ll die to win for the country.”

With a bruised right leg, Pingris fought bravely, showing energy and intensity that rubbed on his teammates as they conquered the sleek, sweet-shooting Koreans, 86-79, in a duel for an outright passage into the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

“With Marcus out, Ping became the backbone of our defense,” said Reyes of the undersized forward who sparkled with 16 points and 10 rebounds against the stunned Korean side.

Curiously, through his first eight seasons in the PBA, this Pozzorubio, Pangasinan native averaged only 7.5 points and 7.2 rebounds an outing.