PBA: Marc Pingris says Purefoods still not playing as a team

 

The Purefoods Star Hotshots improved their record to 3-3 with a 90-82 victory over winless Blackwater, but coach Tim Cone is still not satisfied with the way his team played on Tuesday.

 

The 18-time PBA champion coach rued the Hotshots' tendency to go solo instead of playing team offense, a sentiment echoed by star player Marc Pingris in an interview with reporters after the game.

 

"Bago 'yung Blackwater 'di ba, so parang hindi namin sila ni-respeto, parang ganun," said Pingris.

 

Blackwater, an expansion team playing in its maiden tournament, came to within one point, 53-52, in the third quarter before Purefoods put its foot down on defense and pulled away for good.

 

"Sabi ni Coach, dapat kahit sinong team i-respeto n'yo dahil player din 'yang mga 'yan, nag-pa-practice din 'yang mga 'yan," said Pingris, who scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds.

 

Purefoods opened the conference with a 1-3 record, before finally picking up back-to-back wins against NLEX and Blackwater. The defending Grand Slam champions were stunned by Alaska and San Miguel, but bounced back with a win against GlobalPort before Ginebra stopped their momentum yet again.

 

"Laging ni-re-remind ni coach na wag kayong maglalaro sa apoy kung ayaw n'yong masunog," he said.

 

Pingris said Purefoods has to stop playing individually and start playing collectively, a feat they were able to achieve last Friday against NLEX. He also rued about losing the rebounding battle, 54-39.

 

"Basta ang kailangan namin maglaro talaga as a team," he said. "Hindi larong Pingris or larong James or larong Peter Simon.

 

"'Yung larong Purefoods talaga, 'yun 'yung kailangan naming ipakita," he added. "Hindi 'yung sa pangalan namin sa likod." — JST, GMA News