FILE – Gilas Pilipinas’ Marcio Lassiter shoots the ball within the sport againts Myanmar within the Basketball match of the SEA Video games in MOA Area.–Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.web
Marcio Lassiter’s path to Philippine basketball started with the nationwide group. So regardless of an growing old body and even after tabbing a historic Asian Video games gold medal, he’ll at all times be able to reply the decision of flag and nation.
“It’s what allowed me to be right here within the Philippines. I began enjoying by way of the nationwide group. I didn’t do a route that almost all Filipino-Individuals did,” he informed the Inquirer not too long ago.
“I informed myself my coronary heart is right here—that I belong within the Philippines. And what higher place to do [basketball] than for the nationwide group? There may be at all times no query,” he went on.
Lassiter was a part of the unique Sensible Gilas squad put collectively over 13 years in the past. He has been part of many different editions of the nationwide group and has discovered himself in lots of highs and lows with this system.
He discovered the height of these highs throughout the Hangzhou Asian Video games earlier this month after serving to a rapidly assembled nationwide group ship the Philippines’ first basketball gold in over six a long time.
Lassiter was among the many 5 last-minute replacements for Tim Cone’s crew, coming in for an equally prolific shooter in Roger Pogoy, who begged off from the continental showcase on account of a medical situation.
“This was one of many laborious ones,” he mentioned of his Asiad call-up, which got here simply days earlier than the contingent flew for China. “It was proper after the PBA Draft. I used to be pulling my children to mattress … after which Al Chua informed me about the entire (Pogoy) scenario, which was simply unlucky.
“Although it didn’t take me lengthy. I simply needed to inform my spouse and the children that I’ll be gone for just a bit bit. I knew in my head I needed to come out mentally and put together myself for something—which is one thing I maintain myself to [through the years]: Staying prepared on daily basis.”
An authorized winner with 9 titles with San Miguel Beer within the PBA and three medals on the Southeast Asian stage, Lassiter mentioned that nothing compares to representing the nation—whatever the finish consequence. INQ
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