Gilas Pilipinas had already wrapped up their Monday evening practice when a familiar voice began to ring inside the Meralco Gym. While some of the newer players didn't seem to be aware of the source, the Gilas mainstays knew exactly who had just arrived.
Marc Pingris was in the building.
Pingris intended to arrive earlier to watch the team train, but his kids requested extended time with their dad. With an ACL injury limiting his basketball responsibilities, Pingris now makes equal time for both.
"I came here to visit Coach Chot [Reyes] and my Gilas teammates," Pingris said. "Even when they're competing out of the country, we keep in touch. The bond that we formed back in 2013 is something that will never be broken. Gilas will always be a part of my life."
Pingris recalled trying out for Gilas Pilipinas in 2013 and entering a gym full of veterans who had been part of the national team for several years. Yet, he was never made to feel like a newbie.
Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, and other veterans embraced him and formed a connection that has extended beyond the basketball court.
"I really miss being part of Gilas. This is a brotherhood. That's what I hope every player who becomes a part of this program understands," Pingris added. "It doesn't matter if you're new or you've been here for the longest time, everyone is treated the same."
The 36-year-old forward recalled a memorable moment during training camp in Lithuania in June 2013.
"That's really where the special bond of that team was born," Pingris said. "We surrendered ourselves to the team. One time, we had a room full of grown men crying as we opened up to each other."
Pingris hopes that the same bond can be created among the current team. More than skills and physical gifts, he always identifies that connection as the reason the national team experienced so much success.
"I'm excited for Gilas now because I know they'll get there," Pingris said. "I have full confidence that this squad will fight with the same 'puso' that every other Gilas team showed before."
It was Pingris that truly popularized the word 'puso'. He embodied and personified it. He was a walking definition to an otherwise vague term.
Years after his stint with the national team, Pingris continues to be a huge part of Gilas Pilipinas.