“Laban Pilipinas! Puso!” Ever wondered about the origin of this rallying cry? Turns out, it’s not just about the fiery spirit of Pinoy basketball players.
According to Gilas Pilipinas legend Marc Pingris, the story behind “Puso” was a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Erlinda Prado.
For the “Pinoy Sakuragi,” shouting “puso” honored his mother’s hard work as a single parent. “Hindi kami pinabayaan ng nanay ko. Kahit anong hirap, nakita ko sa kanya, nakuha ko sa kanya ang word na puso,” shared Pingris in an interview with Karen Davila on her vlog.
He also emphasized how every time he shouted it during Gilas games, he thought of his mother and her resilient spirit.
Pingris also recalled how they had a very difficult life after his French father, Jean Marc Pingris Sr., left them.
Living in a market, where his mom sold fresh produce, and sleeping under a table with a watermelon sack as a makeshift blanket—these were the humble beginnings that fueled Pingris’ determination.
Despite playing basketball barefoot and borrowing shoes that didn’t fit because he had big feet for graduation, Pingris reminisced about the joy they found in being together.
“Pero sa totoo lang, masaya kami kasi sama-sama kami. Masaya kami kahit ganun buhay namin na sa palengke nakatira,” he related.
Driven by the same hard work that sustained them, Pingris ventured to Manila with just Php100 and a handful of belongings—a pair of pants and two pair of shorts and underwear, two sandos and three shirts, to be exact.
His early struggles included eating teammates’ leftovers when he couldn’t afford a meal. “Sobrang hirap ng pinagdaanan ko dito sa Manila. Ang manager ko, kapag di ako binigyan ng pera, wala ako pangkain. Pinagkakasya ko lang bigay nya,” said Pingris.
Fast forward a few years, Pingris achieved his dream of getting drafted into the PBA. Grateful for his mother’s sacrifices, he decided to repay her with more than just words and his “puso.”
“Pag kadraft ko sa PBA, ang unang sweldo ko, binili ko ng house and lot si mama para sa birthday nya. Ang first salary ko sa PBA, nakiusap ako na mag advance kasi gusto ko talaga ibili si mama ng house and lot,” said Pingris.
