Few players embodied the zeal and ardor that Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin wants to instill in the team more than Marc Pingris, whose inclusion to the 24-man pool for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers' first window came as a surprise to everyone.
"This is the national team, and we wanted to first and foremost for 2023 develop a culture. And it needs to be a culture of belief, dedication and commitment. Ping's the best example I was ever around in my years of Gilas," said Baldwin.
In a pool filled mostly with amateur players and young stars, Pingris' name was the glaring outlier. The 38-year-old's last stint for the national team came four years ago, where he played under Baldwin during the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila.
After Japeth Aguilar pulled out of the pool, Pingris remains the only player in the current training pool to have suited up in the 2013 FIBA Asia Men's Championships and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
But Baldwin said Pingris could set a perfect example for the rest of the players by imparting the same spirit that has made the three-time PBA Defensive Player an indispensable asset in the rosters of old.
"I've had discussions with him before we ever selected the pool. His inclusion was really to bridge the former Gilas teams that have been successful with this Gilas program and inject into it, I think, the spirit, the commitment and the passion he has for the national team," said Baldwin.
"I know, I absolutely know we cannot be successful no matter how much talent we roll out on this court in four years' time if we have don't have a culture that embodies the people of the country," he added. "And who better than Ping?"
It appears Pingris wasted no time embraced that leadership role.
"Sinabi ko lang din na importante dito 'yung 'pag nakuha kayo o na-lineup kayo, maglaro kayo para sa bayan. Hindi dahil para sa pangalan niyo sa likod, kailangan talaga 'yung pangalan dito sa harap," shared Pingris. "Para sa bayan 'yung makikipag-patayan ka, makikipag-laro ka kahit mas malaki sa'yo, mas malakas sa'yo. Ipakita mo 'yung galing ng Pilipino."
"We have so many young players, and one of the things young players need is leadership. We wanted to get the right kind of leader, somebody that could inspire these younger players and inform these younger players of how important it is to play for your country, how seriously you have to take that, how professional you have to behave," added Baldwin.
Pingris added that he's only doing the same job that players before him have done, noting that these current players will do the same once they get to that point in their careers.
"I'm excited over the fact that their trust in me is still there, and I'm excited to share what I've learned from my mentors. That's how it really is, you just pass it all along. They'll all grow old one day and whoever gets lined up today, they'll be teaching the younger generation of Gilas players," he said in Filipino.
However, there's still a possibility that Pingris could actually play and support a thinning frontline that will miss Aguilar, who begged off to go on a delayed honeymoon, and Christian Standhardinger, who asked for more time to rehabilitate a recurring left knee issue.
"Ping still has value as player. And when you saw all those big guys over at the sidelines injured today, we're gonna need every bigger body that we could get to play as well," said Baldwin.
"If ever they do get me, I'll give my best. I'm not going to let myself be left behind by the kids," Pingris said.
Gilas will host Thailand on Feb. 20 to open its Asia Cup qualifiers campaign and will travel to Jakarta to take on Indonesia on Feb. 23.