Veteran forward Marc Pingris is one among those handful of players who can dominate a game even without scoring in bunches.
The hardworking frontliner finished with only four points, but made an impact by doing the dirty job and serving as facilitator for the Magnolia Hotshots who picked up their fifth straight win last Friday against the Blackwater Elite in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Pingris grabbed 12 rebounds and dished put eight assists in his team’s latest win.
But Pingris came out with two big plays down the stretch that helped stave off the Elite’s uprising.
“Kilala niyo naman ako, talagang hindi ako masyado umiiskor dahil sa team namin maraming scorer, kaya tinatrabaho ko na lang yung ibang bagay,” Pingris told InterAksyon.com.
Playing without its floor leader, Paul Lee, who suffered a high-grade ankle sprain last time around, Magnolia turned to Pingris for direction.
Pingris gladly responded by embracing the role of facilitator.
“Ang sabi ko kay Paul, bilangin mo yung assists ko and rebounds, yun ang gagawin ko,” added Pingris.
True enough, Pingris was responsible in keeping his team’s winning streak. He dished out a crucial assist inside to Ian Sangalang then came up with a big defensive play by altering John Pinto’s game-tying basket in the closing seconds of the game.
