Marc Pingris's selfie with the Gilas Pilipinas players—taken moments after they engaged in a full-blown brawl with the visiting Australian basketball players at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan—went viral last night, July 2.
The photo showed Marc flashing a big smile together with the Gilas team, who lost by default after nine of their players got ejected from the game due to the court melee.
Marc's caption read: "Lalaban kami [strong emoji] #puso"
Prior to his selfie, Marc also posted via Instagram story a short video that was taken during the Gilas-versus-Aussies 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier game.
The former Gilas player was expressing his support to the Philippine team, despite it being down by 31 points before the brawl broke out.
Marc said in the video: "Di niyo kami kaya, boy!"
Both posts have been deleted on Marc's Instagram account at press time.
However, the part when Marc took a selfie with the Gilas players got aired on TV, as seen in the screenshot below:
This drew mixed reactions from netizens who were shocked by how things turned ugly during last night's game at the Philippine Arena.
DISRESPECTFUL? NBA player Andrew Bogut was among those who called out the Gilas players for being insensitive to even take a selfie amid the FIBA fracas.
Blokes taking a team selfie after all that. Down 31. Yep. They really just took a team selfie.
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
Class https://t.co/GaNYwSJFzF
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) July 2, 2018
Marc Pingris taking a selfie with Gilas. It's not even funny. And very unnecessary.
— yñigo not iñigo (@_ynigo) July 2, 2018
im a Marc pingris fan but that selfie was just plain disrespectful. i hope Philippines can still host huge fiba events after this ???? https://t.co/5DSUsHYW68
— mashoud (@RealShoud) July 2, 2018
And Marc Pingris did probably one of the most nakakahiya things ever. When has a selfie ever pacified a situation? Man the lack of morals of so many people shocks me and at the same time I have come to expect it.
— Austin Torres (@austintourist) July 2, 2018
I stand corrected. At first i thought the selfie is to break the tension last night. But Marc Pingris really? Tambak na tayo nyan. #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/5w1VNbrq0G
— kristoffer de dios (@kristoff3rDDS) July 2, 2018
NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. On the other hand, there were also netizens who defended Marc and tweeted that he was just trying to lighten things up given the stressful situation that the Gilas players got into.
WALA KAYONG PAKIALAM KUNG NAGSI-SELFIE YANG SI MARC PINGRIS! Bakit, may kinalaman ba siya sa GULO? Kalma lang siya di ba? Ang BOBO ninyo po. I'm sorry.#FIBAWC https://t.co/iaZVwmQnFb
— John Paulo Valdez (@JPValdez2015) July 2, 2018
But calling Gilas players "monkeys" and "dogs" have class?! BOOOOO! you can't put down Ping just because of that selfie thing, there's nothing wrong with that. He already apologized wait for that article to come out on Spin.
— Jean Marc Pingris Jr (@TeamMarcPingris) July 3, 2018
Selfie nalang oh hahahahaha i love marc pingris
— ??? (@anikablythe) July 2, 2018
Marc Pingris takes a selfie with the whole Gilas team to ease the situation. You’re really the man, Ping! ????
— Eljay G ???? (@e1jaygarrido) July 2, 2018
si marc pingris nagdala eh selfie muna bago bugbugin ang mga autralian HAHAHAHAHA
— juwaaan (@gabrieljuwaaan) July 2, 2018
"SELFIE MUNA BAGO..." And then there were some who just poked fun at Marc's selfie game and turned it into a "selfie muna bago ma-eject" meme.
Marc pingris:Guys selfie muna bago ma eject. #NgitingNambugbog
— ?? (@joshua_erice) July 2, 2018
???????????? pic.twitter.com/eHqMCX64Bp
Selfie muna pagkatapos mkipagsuntukan..
— Joan Sto Domingo (@iamjoanSD) July 2, 2018
-Marc Pingris. @PBAonTV5 pic.twitter.com/Jj2OZJFstB
Selfie muna bago labas hahahaha marc pingris da best! laban parin pilipinas! hahaha
— Nineee (@ninetenelevennn) July 2, 2018
The group selfie led by Marc Pingris made my night. It’s the highlight of this game HAHAHAHA that guy though!!! ????
— Aira Paz (@airapazb) July 2, 2018
the first ever basketbrawl of jayson castro.
— arria christianna (@AHRIYAHH) July 2, 2018
the inner pacman of jio jalalon.
the last man standing, baser amer.
the selfie muna bago mag eject of jean marc pingris ft. gilas boys.
the best crossover of terrence romeo.
HAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHA
Best caption for Marc Pingris selfie is "SELFIE MUNA BAGO MAEJECT" hahaha #FIBAWC #LabanPilipinas #PUSO
— Nichol Panzuelo (@nicholppanzuelo) July 2, 2018
MARC'S APOLOGY. At press time, Marc has issued a public apology to those who felt offended by his selfie with the Gilas players.
He maintained that he had no bad intention when he took a souvenir selfie with the Gilas team.
"Kung mali ako sorry sa lahat ng nagalit, pero sa tingin ko walang masama sa ginawa ko," Marc told SPIN.ph in a report published earlier today, July 3.
Marc added, "Actually pauwi na ako and gusto ko lang may picture ako sa kanila."
For a full account of what occurred during the game, read from SPIN.ph: Bench-emptying melee mars Gilas game vs Aussies