INANUNSYO kahapon ni Star Hotshots forward Marc Pingris na handa siyang maglarong muli sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Ito ay matapos na pormal na magpaalam si Pingris na hindi makapaglalaro sa 16-man national pool kung saan tinukoy niyang dahilan ang pamilya, kalusugan at propesyunal na rason.
“Despite my earlier pronouncement not to join and give others a chance to play for the country, Purefoods management has asked me to reconsider my decision. I talked to my wife and we agreed. In the end, it was pride and honor in representing the Philippines that prevailed over me,” sabi ni Pingris sa isang pahayag.
“I am grateful for management’s support and if the Philippine team still needs me, I promise to go all out for the country in the FIBA Asia Championship as it aims to gain a slot in the Rio Olympics next year,” dagdag pa ni Pingris.
“He will represent the country because he wants to. We have no control over our players’ decision when it comes to competing for the national team. We do not deny that we debate on the merits of them joining as a professional player. However, in the end representing your country is an incomparable honor. You can’t argue with that,” sabi naman ni Star Hotshots team governor Rene Pardo.
Dinagdag pa ni Pardo na ang San Miguel management ay patuloy na hihimukin ang kanilang mga manlalaro na maging handa para maglaro sa bansa kung kinakailangan.
Samantala, sisimulan na ngayon ng Gilas Pilipinas ang kanilang isang linggong training camp sa Estonia bilang paghahanda sa 2015 FIBA Asia Championships sa Changsha, China.
Makakaharap nila ang Netherlands, Iceland at Estonia sa isang four-team pocket tournament.