‘We haven’t achieved our goal yet,’ reminds Marc Pingris as San Mig Coffee gears up for finals

Finally back in the championship round of a PBA tournament, one could forgive San Mig Coffee fans for celebrating after the Mixers clinched a finals spot in the Governors’ Cup on Sunday with a win over Meralco.

But star forward Marc Pingris was in no mood to celebrate, saying the team still had unfinished business.

“Gaya ng sabi ko dati, wala pa kaming napapatunayan. Hangga’t hindi pa namin hawak yung trophy hindi pa achievement yun. Yun talaga gusto naming makuha,” Pingris told InterAKTV in an exclusive interview.

Pingris had his finest game of the series in the deciding Game Four, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.

With the team taking a day off on Monday before plunging back to work, Pingris is preparing for a new set of challenges in the finals.

“Panibagong kalaban, panibagong adjustment,” said Pingris, as the Mixers await the winner of the other semifinal series between Petron and Rain or Shine.

He said hunger is a motivation, but notes that every team in the final four could say that as well.

“Lahat kami gutom. Pero para sa amin gusto lang naming patunayan na kaya naming maglaro ng may puso at manalo as a team,” said Pingris. “Doon mo makikita yung character ng team. Doon mo makikita yung pagmamahal mo sa trabaho at paglalaro ng basketball.”