Magnolia may be missing Marc Pingris in the PBA bubble, but it has found someone capable of filling the void left by the veteran in Jackson Corpuz.

Corpuz delivered the hustle and energy Pingris usually provides as he played a key role for Magnolia in a come-from-behind 103-100 win over NLEX in the Philippine Cup.

Playing in his first game since March, Corpuz struggled early before he hit his stride in the second half and finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds and an impressive plus-minus of +16.

“We talked to Jack in the first half, he was overeager and too excited,” said Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero in Filipino.

“When he settled down in the second half, he gave us energy, rebounds, and the pressure defense against the opponents’ big men.”

Corpuz put up only 2 points and 3 rebounds and already committed his third foul at halftime, but he found his footing in the last two quarters as Magnolia came back from 22 points down.

Victolero said Pingris has made it a point to take Corpuz under his wing.

“I think Ping sees himself in Jack,” Victolero said.

“Jack says Ping is really helping him learn our system and schemes on defense,” Victolero added. “I think the transition between them is a big thing because we know Ping is not getting any younger.”

Victolero cannot wait for “Pinoy Sakuragi” Pingris, who did not join Magnolia in the bubble due to a calf injury, to return and form his Slam Dunk connection with “Pinoy Fukuda” Corpuz.

Pingris earned the moniker “Pinoy Sakuragi” from the anime series Slam Dunk due to his rebounding and spunk, while Corpuz got dubbed “Pinoy Fukuda” as they look alike and play the same position.

“Once Ping comes back, Sakuragi and Fukuda will be together,” said Victolero. – Rappler.com