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Geneva Barangay Guard Nards Pinto. PBA PICTURES
MANILA, Philippines-Nards Pinto himself was surprised to be chosen by the fans to participate in the PBA All-Star Game next month, although he is aware of the criticism of the inclusion of other deserving players.
“Of course I can’t control what happened (Of course, I can’t control),” Pinto told The Inquirer before Ginebra took on Blackwater in the PBA Governor’s Cup match on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Pinto earned 1,146,069 after two weeks of voting that ended last February 15, good for 23rd among the 24 players selected to participate in the classic show that returns after a four-year absence.
This is despite Pinto’s numbers of 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals in the Philippine Cup and 2.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.6 steals in the Commissioner’s Cup Geneva.
The scoring increased in the final conference of the season to 10.4 points to the game of Blackwater with 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals.
But some observers think that the likes of Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma or Maverick Ahanmisi of Converge would have been worthy choices, given their performances in the 47th season of the league.
“We know that there are more deserving people in my place, but people voted for me,” he said. “And those who say I’m not worthy, that’s their opinion, we can’t do anything, so I’m blessed and chosen.”
(We all know that there are players who deserve my place, but I was chosen by the fans. Those who feel that they don’t deserve to play, that’s their opinion and we can’t do anything about it. I’m just blessed that I was chosen.)
The Ginebra factor is what Pinto recognizes. He is one of the eight Gin Kings selected to participate in the Passi City event scheduled for March 9 to 12, along with Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson, who will captain their respective teams.
Jamie Malonzo, Christian Standhardinger, LA Tenorio and Stanley Pringle were also selected while another surprise inclusion was rookie Jeremiah Gray.
“I was blessed that… let’s say Ginebra fans voted for me,” he said. “But I really didn’t expect to be in the All-Star.”
(I was blessed that I was chosen by Ginebra fans, but I did not expect that I would become an All-Star.)
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