Pingris set to join Gilas practice upon arrival from France

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas will be getting a much needed shot in the arm as energetic Star forward Marc Pingris is set to join the national pool’s practice on Thursday, shortly upon his arrival from Normandy, Northern France.

“Ping arrives on the 12th (Wednesday). He’ll be arriving close to midnight then goes to practice on Thursday,”  a team insider told Philstar.com on Monday.

The source said the 6-foot-5 Pingris’ arrival will be a huge boost for a national squad that is trying to make the most of the six-week preparation it has before plunging into action in the Fiba-Asia men’s championships next month in Changsa, Hunan, China.

The source added that the 33-year-old power forward is in tip-top shape.

“He's running there everyday and he gave us his schedule so we've been touching base," the source said.

If ever, Pingris will be the lone representative from the San Miguel Corp. bloc since June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra guard LA Tenorio have declared their unavailability for the national team.

Pingris is actually part of the 16-man pool that was officially released by the PBA a week ago.

The power-playing Pingris is coming off a two-week trip in Northern France where he mourned the death of his stepmom’s mother

The rest of the members of the pool that have been practicing for over a week already led by 2013 Fiba-Asia edition best guard Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, Aldrech Ramos, Gary David, JC Intal, Gabe Norwood, Sonny Thoss, Dondon Hontiveros, and Calvin Abueva.

Former Gilas cadet big man Troy Rosario is the lone amateur player in the national pool, while athletic Kelly Williams is already out of the team due to a strained MCL (medial collateral ligament) on his right knee.