Pringle played college ball in the US, suited up for pro teams in Belgium, Poland and Ukraine, and led the Indonesia Warriors to an ABL championship. He averaged in double figures in all those stints so he's not just any role-playing journeyman.
So when he decided to finally enter his name in the PBA draft, GlobalPort, who owned the top pick, couldn't be more ecstatic. Pringle had already been meeting up with GlobalPort staff and working out with the team even days before the draft. GlobalPort had no doubt that Pringle was their guy.
GlobalPort has had a nightmarish first two years in the league, as they finished last in four out of the six conferences. With the top pick, the franchise is looking to turn their fortunes around, and when they picked Stanley Pringle in the 2014 PBA draft, they look for him to be the catalyst for that change.
But is Pringle really the answer?
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| After stints all around the world, Pringle is now looking to bring his talent (and his beard) to the PBA. |
Stanley Pringle is a very explosive combo guard. He's big, he's fast, and he's strong. He can penetrate, drive, dish, and shoot.
Do those qualities remind you of another player? Last year, GlobalPort also had an explosive combo guard, who's big, fast and strong, who can penetrate, drive, dish and shoot. His name is Sol Mercado.
But despite all of Mercado's brilliance, the team still struggled to rack up wins. That's because in basketball, as cliche'd as this may sound, one guy can't do it all. And it's too much to ask for anybody, nonetheless a rookie, to turn things around overnight. No single guy can do that. Not Mercado, and not Pringle.
Expectations for Pringle will undoubtedly be very high, and for good reason, but we shouldn't expect him to dominate right away. It may take some games for him to adjust to the team system and the style of play in the PBA. He will have nights where he will struggle from the field and shoot 1/9, similar to how spitfire Terrence Romeo, in his rookie year, would score 30 one night, then 3 the next.
But there's no doubt that Pringle is the best talent in the recent draft. At 27, he's at the prime of his career and is ripe enough to be able to contribute right away.
But will he be the franchise-savior? The one who'll lead GlobalPort to greater heights?
No, but we don't need him to be, at least not immediately. What we need is for him to create a positive impact for the team. We need him to play his heart out every game, for the team and for the fans. We need him to play to his strengths and to work on his weaknesses. We need him to be a Batang Pier.
Is Pringle the answer?
No. But he'll be an important piece of the puzzle.
Port out.
