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MANILA, Philippines – Star Hotshots forward Marc Pingris has decided to join the Gilas Pilipinas national team pool after earlier deciding to beg off from the national team due to family, health, and professional concerns.
“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,” Pingris said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I talked to my wife, and we agreed. In the end, it was pride and honor in representing the Philippines that prevailed over me,” he added.
Pingris was a key member of the Gilas Pilipinas squad that placed second in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and saw action in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
He announced last week that he will be not be joining the national team in its quest in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, however, citing things beyond his control. Pingris’ agent, Ed Ponceja, had earlier said that the “Pinoy Sakuragi” wanted to focus on Star’s campaign in the upcoming PBA season after failing to defend their championships in any of the conferences last year.
He seems to have had a change of heart, however, and said that he will “go all out for the country in the FIBA Asia Championship” should he be included in the final line-up.
The national team is currently in Estonia, where it will play a series of tune-up games ahead of its campaign in the Jones Cup.
“He will represent the country because he wants to,” Star team governor Rene Pardo said. “We have no control over our players’ decisions 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,” he added. “You can’t argue with that.”
The national team’s lead-up to the FIBA Asia Championship has been hit by injuries and withdrawals of key players, including two-time PBA MVP JuneMar Fajardo who was supposed to have been the centerpiece of the team.
Photo: Slamonline
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
