Pingris: "HINDI TAYO PAPASINDAK"

During the Philippine national men’s basketball team’s tuneup game versus a visiting Turkey squad, hardworking forward Marc Pingris found himself in a tough battle with NBA player Omer Asik underneath.

Early in the fourth quarter, Pingris got a taste of Asik’s physicality as the New Orleans Pelicans center hit the veteran Gilas frontliner with a wayward elbow.

About a few seconds later, Pingris retaliated and gave Asik a dose of his own medicine. That sparked a confrontation between the Turkish center and the many-time PBA All-Defensive Team member.

Both players were slapped with a technical each. But Pingris got the last laugh in that chippy encounter as he drew Asik’s fifth and final foul.

“Nagkabigayan lang kanina. Hindi naman tayo papasindak sa kanila eh. Kailangang lumalaban din. Hindi naman puwede yung ikaw na nga ang siniko, siya pa yung galit kapag binawian mo. Kailangan ipakita mo rin na matapang ka sa loob,” Pingris told sportswriters after the game.

Pingris added that he won’t back down to anyone who provokes him, be it an NBA player who stands seven inches taller than him.

“Wala akong pakialam doon (sa pagiging NBA veteran niya). Natamaan ako sa ilong, tsaka sa likod. Nung binawian ko siya, nagalit. Siniko ko rin, hindi naman sadya, patago lang. Nagkataon lang yun.”

The Filipinos lost, 84-76, but they showed improvement from the 36-point beatdown against the same team in their first encounter.

“Pero good job, naman kami kahit talo, pinakita naman naming lumaban yung team. Naging flat lang talaga nung third quarter,” he said.

source: interaksyon.com

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