Marcio Lassiter still willing to play for Gilas Pilipinas

If presented with another opportunity to play for Gilas Pilipinas, veteran sharp-shooter Marcio Lassiter will not hesitate to heed the call of his homeland.

Despite national coach Tim Cone’s decision to maintain a 12-man roster for the current Gilas team, the 36-year-old Lassiter remains undeterred, harboring the hope of another chance to don the national colors on the court.

“No, no, no. I got some gas still left here,” said Lassiter when asked if he’s done playing for the national team. “The shooting will always be there.”

Following their unforgettable golden victory in the most recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Lassiter seemed to have rekindled his shooting prowess. He led the field in three-point field goal percentage during the Commissioner’s Cup, boasting a 45.1 shooting percentage from beyond the three-point line (37-of-82) and guiding the Beermen to triumph over Magnolia in six games of the championship series.

Lassiter’s formidable shooting performance continues to shine in the current Philippine Cup, boasting a 9-of-13 record so far.

Regrettably, Lassiter fell short in the recent Three-Point shootout during the All-Star festivities, leaving him yet to claim a maiden PBA Three-Point shootout title.

Lassiter also dispelled rumours of his retirement from national team service. He clarified this confusion after rumors circulated that both he and Japeth Aguilar had played their final game with Gilas following the Asiad. The former member of the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas explained that people had misconstrued their reference to ‘The Last Dance’ as an indication of their departure from the national basketball program.

“(Just) before we played Jordan, coach Tim put on the board ‘The Last Dance.’ So he explained it and what he meant by it,” explained Lassiter.

“Coach said everyone in the room may not be in the next Asian Games. So it sounds like yes, it makes sense. This could be quite the last one for everyone. So it might probably be our ‘Last Dance.’ So I thought that was what Japeth said. I thought yeah, this is our ‘Last Dance’ for this Asian Games. So I think that’s where the confusion came in.”

While the Asiad may not be in the cards, Lassiter confirms that he would always be prepared for any potential call-up in other tournaments where Gilas participates.