Marc Pingris impressed by Robert Bolick's heart, work ethic in Gilas practice

Marc Pingris was the epitome of 'puso' during his glorious time with the Gilas Pilipinas national team.

On Monday, when he joined the new batch of Gilas players preparing for the World Cup qualifiers later this month, Pingris saw a bit of himself in one of the players: Robert Bolick.

Pingris was recently called up to be one of head coach Chot Reyes' deputies and he was impressed by how the NorthPort guard puts in the work for the flag.

"Sobra kasi niyang sipag at sabi niya sakin, 'Kuya, ito 'yung pangarap ko eh, 'yung maglaro dito'," Pingris shared in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

"Nakita talaga ng mata ko kahapon bago kami mag-start ng practice, maaga siya, and then nag-workout na agad siya. Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanya na magiging maintenance niya na 'yang workout at habang buhay na niyang gagawin 'yan."

Before calling it a career, Pingris was given the chance to share the court with Bolick, even giving him some advice when the former San Beda standout suffered an ACL injury back in 2019.

Pingris himself had encountered injuries back then that sidelined him for part of the tail end of his illustrious career, which saw him win nine PBA titles and three Defensive Player of the Year plums.

Being the much more experienced cager, Pingris told Bolick to just work hard and keep his love of the game intact.

"Nung na-injure siya dati, sobrang down niya. Tinawagan ko siya at tinext at kinwento ko na ako din, napagdaanan ko 'yun. Twice pa sa same knee,"

"Kaya sabi ko, kung gusto mong makabalik, hard work lang, [at] puso lang. Hindi ka gagaling [at] hindi ka makakabalik 'pag nandyan ka lang sa bahay mo. Sabi ko sa kanya, may mga araw na mafe-feel mo na sobrang ayaw mo magtrabaho kasi siyempre napapagod ka, but 'yun ang unang una mong dapat labanan."

Bolick is among the PBA players set to boost an undermanned Gilas team for the February window that kicks off on the 24th at the Araneta Coliseum. He will be joined by selected players from TNT.

Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Ange Kouame, Tzaddy Rangel, William Navarro, Jaydee Tungcab, and Juan Gomez de Liaño have also heeded the call of duty.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News