Marcio keeps his fingers crossed

FOSHAN – He could have helped remedy Gilas Pilipinas’s shooting woes but as things stand, injured gunner Marcio Lassiter can only watch helplessly as the Nationals fired blanks against Italy.

“It hurts, just for the aspect of being there to help your brothers out. You always want to be out  there fighting with them. You know, they’re going to be putting their bodies on the line and for me, that’s one thing I want to do for the team and for the country,” said Lassiter, who deferred full-time rehab in Manila to be here.

“All I can do now is cheer them on and encourage them while watching,” added Lassiter, who brought his family along in this city known as the cradle of Chinese kungfu.

Lassiter is considered the best shooter in the Gilas pool but was forced to miss action by an MCL injury he sustained in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Without the Fil-Am marksman, and also Matthew Wright who followed in sick bay after hurting his ankle in practice, Gilas struggled to find the range against the taller Italians. The Pinoy cagers missed their first 17 three-point attempts before making one in the fourth, finishing with an awful 3-for-23 marksmanship.

“I don’t know if it’s from the defense or we just couldn’t execute. But I’m sure, if we’re able to move it around a little more, I think the guys can get a better look,” he said.

Lassiter expressed confidence his mates will get their shooting rhythm back.

“Always confident. I’ve seen them first-hand, they’re great shooters, they string one, two or three. I feel like if they got one trey, it’s going to keep on flowing since the confidence will keep building,” he said.

The San Miguel Beer star, meanwhile, reported that he has no timetable for his return yet.

“I would say it’s still far away. It’s not where it needs to be at this point and I’m taking a day-by-day approach,” he said.