Ex-Meralco guard Nards Pinto glad to win PBA title (Sabong News)
Author
Jonas Terrado
Date
APRIL 23 2022
Nards Pinto is delighted to have played a key part in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s PBA Governors’ Cup title victory over his former Meralco.
Pinto did his part on both ends for most of the series, helping the Gin Kings
in the last five editions of the season-ending conference.
Afterwards, San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua jokingly said that Pinto will no longer be returned to Meralco as a result of the successful run.
It would be recalled that Chua, in a pre-finals press conference, remarked in jest that the pesky guard was going to be sent back to the Bolts if the Gin Kings fell short for the first time in their series of title battles.
“Hindi na ako ibabalik sa Meralco. Narinig niyo naman na ilang beses sinabi yun, di ba?” Pinto told reporters before flashing a wide grin.
Ginebra picked up Pinto in early-January when teams were allowed to sign players eligible to become unrestricted free agents.
But Pinto had to do it by leaving the Bolts, even if he had been starting to play a prominent role on the rotation since the Philippine Cup.
Pinto couldn’t help but feel sad for his former teammates, who had to endure the misery of another finals defeat to the Gin Kings.
“Siyempre, may lungkot din kahit papaano kasi close ko din mga yun,” he said. “Pero ganun talaga ang basketball e ngayon nandito na ako sa Ginebra, sobrang happy ako at blessed na nakapagchampion ako.”
