Is Pringle The Answer?

Stanley Pringle probably has the most impressive credentials for a draftee in the history of the PBA (maybe with the exception of Manny Pacquiao if you count non-basketball related achievements, but that's another story).

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?

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.

The Sol-Train Departs The Port

Solomon Mercado is not your typical PBA pointguard. He's big, stuffed and strong, allowing him to just overwhelm smaller guys in his position. He's got the body of a Wynne Arboleda yet the speed of a Jayson Castro. He can drive, he can dish, and he can shoot the three.

Rooting against Sol Mercado is tough, because he's just so good. This brings back memories of his Rain or Shine days where he was a nightmare to the Coca-Cola Tigers (and us fans).

Seems like we'll be rooting against him again now.

"Choo-choo!"

And that crossover? Man, what a beauty to watch. Of course I could never forget how he crossed Derek Fisher (twice!) when the NBA stars came here to play. His "Sol-Train" monicker is perfectly fitting. When you see him coming, you better move out of the way or you're going to be run over. He's almost unstoppable at times. He brought "bully-ball" to the PBA.

I've always admired Sol Mercado's exciting brand of play, even before he came to GlobalPort. That's why I was so stoked when he became a Batang Pier last year. He teamed up with Gary David in what figured to be an explosive backcourt. Later on, he would form the "MMDA" connection with Willie Miller, David and Japeth Aguilar. That squad didn't have much success though, or maybe the management gave up too easily on making it work out.

As to why that didn't pan out, Sol is definitely not to blame. He put up great numbers for the team during his brief stint here. Just last conference, he averaged a career-high 19 points per game (3rd in the league), to go along with 5 assists (5th in the league) and 4 rebounds.

The great thing about Sol was that he never whined despite the team's struggles, or at least not publicly. He never demanded for a trade. He just continued to deliver what was required of him, and even more. Last year, Mercado decided to go against the doctor's advice of having shoulder surgery (which would've sidelined him for 4 to 6 months), so that he could join the team in the season-ending Governor's Cup.

When the team decided to rebuild and trade away the veterans, Mercado willingly went along with the plan and even pledged to take the young rookies under his wing. As brief as Sol's stay in GlobalPort may be, he showed that he was a true Batang Pier.

And we thank you for that, Sol Mercado.

Roar out.

Fire and Ice.

Terrence Bill Romeo. Mercurial and exciting, his engine is in full throttle the moment he steps in the court. He torches hapless defenders with his blazing-fast speed. He is explosive, he is exciting, and he's eager to burst into a star in just his rookie season.

Ryan Roose Garcia. Always calm and composed, he plays with the maturity of a seasoned cager. He usually defers to the veterans, but is not afraid to take the big shot when needed. Cool as ice, he's already providing stability to this young team in just his rookie year.

Romeo's game is as fiery as his hairstyle. 

Fire.

Although Romeo won the UAAP MVP plum this year, he did it on 37% FG, 27% 3-point FG, and 73% FT. Cringe-worthy numbers, which led me to believe that although Romeo is oozing with talent, he's quite raw and it might take a while for him to adjust to the PBA.

I'm eating those thoughts now.

Nobody expected him to hit 7 threes en route to 34 points in just his second professional game. Nobody expected him to go head-to-head with Mark Caguioa. Nobody, except Romeo himself. He's full of confidence and he believes he belongs to the PBA. That's the reason he decided to forego his final season of UAAP eligibility. He knows he is capable of balling with the big boys now.

All these things tend to make us forget that he's still a rookie, and he's only 21. He is full of talent, but he still has a lot to learn as well. Just like flame, he's combustible and could easily get out of control. That's why the coaches are cautious in handling him. As awesome as Romeo's one-on-one skills are, he still needs to play within the system, and the coaching staff are doing a good job in making him understand that.

He scored 34 in one game, and scored 1 in another. He's as streaky as most scorers go, and he needs to work on his consistency. But there's no doubt about his immense amount of potential, and he's ready to set the league on fire.

The guy you can count on to hit the cold-blooded trey.

Ice.

The moment Garcia was drafted, I was certain that he is ready for the big league. He's got good size for a pointguard, he can defend, and he can shoot. Although he struggled a bit in his first couple of games, it didn't take long for him to have a breakout game, scoring 20 points against Ginebra.  Since then, he has scored in double-figures in 4 of 5 games. He can indeed shoot the three, evidenced by his impressive 43% shooting from behind-the-arc. He ranks second in the league when it comes to threes made. Even more impressive, most of those threes came in the fourth quarter, just when the team is needing a big shot or when the opponent is threatening to come back.

Garcia plays with a sense of control. His composure is outstanding for a rookie playmaker. In 4 out of the 7 games he's played, he did not commit a single turnover, and only committed 1 turnover in the other 2 of those games. That's uncanny for a rookie guard who's expected to be relatively erratic. Garcia's transition to the PBA has been as smooth as silk.

Green for Life.

Fire and Ice.

Garcia and Romeo has been teammates for 5 years now. They have had their share of success in the amateur ranks, and now they're groomed to be GlobalPort's backcourt of the future.

Fire and Ice, Yin and Yang. Two players with very contrasting playstyles, but both equally vital towards GlobalPort's future success.

Roar Out.

The Fall and Rise of Jay Washington

It's amazing how a simple change in scenery can do so much to a player's floundering career.  Case in point is GlobalPort forward Jay Washington.  Just a year ago, people were dismissing Jay-Wash as washed-up (no pun intended), a has-been.   After all, how many players over 30 get to jumpstart their game again after years of injuries?  Not too many.  It takes special players to do just that.

A player like Jay Washington.

(photo from the PBA)

Anthony Jay Washington entered the league as the top overall pick in 2005. Washington possessed a rare mix of size, athleticism and shooting, and players with those attributes are almost always surefire to dominate (Danny Seigle anyone?). You see, you don't often come across a 6'7" guy with incredible hops and a smooth shooting touch to boot.

However, Washington struggled in his rookie year, averaging 5.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and only 15 minutes per game in a stacked Talk n' Text team.  He began displaying his potential in his second season, upping his averages to 13.5 points and 7 rebounds.  After 3 seasons with Talk n' Text, he was traded to the San Miguel Beermen, where he soon flourished into a superstar.

In his first couple of seasons in San Miguel, he was named to the PBA 1st Mythical Team 2 times, won Best Player of the Conference twice, and led his team to the 2009 Fiesta Conference title.  Washington was primed to be the new face of the franchise.

Then injuries happened.  J-Wash missed over 50 games in over 2 seasons due to an assortment of injuries. San Miguel also landed Arwind Santos in 2009, and with Washington in sick bay, the Beermen found themselves another alpha dog.  Last season, Washington posted a career-low 8.9 points per game.  Saddled by injuries and a reduced role, the 31-year-old suddenly found his career spiraling down.

But sometimes, for a player that's trying to get back his confidence, all he needs is an opportunity, and that came to Washington when he was traded to GlobalPort.  Like a breath of fresh air, J-Wash rediscovered his old form.  He was finally in a team that really needed him to produce.  He was getting heavy minutes, a big role, and these helped him get back to playing at the highest level.

In just his first conference with GlobalPort, he averaged 13 points and close to 10 rebounds.  He is even better this conference, averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and 38 minutes so far, all career-highs.  In addition, he also now serve as a leader in a very young team, and he seems to relish in that role.

At 32, J-Wash is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and he continues to showcase the skills and talent that made him the most intriguing prospect in 2005.

Nobody is calling him washed-up now for sure.

Roar out.

Tidbits: Oh, Romeo!

This boy was on FIRE!

A star is born.

Terrence Romeo, in just his second professional game, went Gary-David-mode en route to game-high 34 points on a blistering 6/9 shooting from three.  And he didn't only score, he scored very efficiently.  His shot selection was excellent and he didn't force shots.  He was aggressive, forcing hapless Air21 big men into fouls.  He picked his spots well, especially from outside the arc.  Step back J's, swishing threes, Romeo really brought on his A-game tonight.

We all knew that Romeo was good, but no one saw this coming.

Check out this statline:

34 points, 10/17 FGs (59%), 6/9 3-point FGs (67%), 8/9 FTs (89%), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, only 2 turnovers, in 32 minutes.

Wow.

FACE-OFF:

Asi Taulava - 21 points, 15 rebounds, 35 minutes.

Erik Menk - 7 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 27 minutes.

Asi won this one, but does it even matter?

KEY PLAYER:  Terrence Romeo

I chose Romeo as my key player pre-game, and boy was I on-point in this one.

(Ex) TIGER WATCH:  Joseph Yeo

Yeo had an excellent game, scoring 24 points, with 7 rebounds and 6 assists.  This guy is a legit scorer, and I just can't help but wonder how much greater he would've been if he was plunged into a main scorer role like this much earlier in his career.  He was really held back in all those years he spent with Petron.

FLINTSKY PREDICTS:

1.  If GlobalPort limits Air21 to below eight 3-pointers, they win the game.

 Air21 was only 4/14 from behind the arc.

2.  GlobalPort rookie RR Garcia only shot 1/5 in his pro debut.  He will be able make at least 3 field goals in this game.

RR was only 2/7 in this game.  He did add 4 assists and solid quarterbacking in 22 minutes.

3.  If Joseph Yeo and KG Canaleta are limited to a combined 30 points or less, GlobalPort wins the game.

Yeo scored 24, Canaleta added 11, for a combined 35.  Still, GlobalPort won thanks to a certain wild-haired rookie.

4.  The game will be decided by 8 points or less.

Game was close at halftime, with GlobalPort only ahead by 2, but then Romeo happened.  Final margin was 14.

5. If Global Port scores 20 or more in at least 3 out of 4 quarters, they win the game.


GlobalPort did better than that, scoring 20+ points in all 4 quarters, including a 36-point explosion in the 3rd canto.


FlintSky's score - 2/5 - Failed.

I've never been happier to get a failing score.

Roar Out.

FlintSky Predicts: GlobalPort vs Air21

Prepare for maximum nostalgia.

FACE-OFF:

Asi "The Rock" Taulava versus Eric "Major Pain" Menk. The two best centers of the past decade meets up once again for 535th time. Party like it's '99.

KEY PLAYER:  Terrence Romeo

We got a taste of Romeo's exciting brand of basketball last game, and we expect him to do more in this game, especially since Air21 really doesn't have Lassiter/Lutz-type lockdown defenders.

(Ex) TIGER WATCH:  Joseph Yeo

Last game, former Tiger Marcio Lassiter shot the lights out and top-scored Petron against GlobalPort.  This time, we will have another Tiger in the opposite side of the bench in Joseph Yeo, who the Coca-Cola Tigers picked 3rd overall in the 2006 draft.  He spent only one season with the Tigers before being shipped out to the Sta. Lucia Realtors in exchange for Cesar Catli and Mark Isip.

FLINTSKY PREDICTS:

1.  If GlobalPort limits Air21 to below eight 3-pointers, they win the game.

* Asi is no longer the offensive beast that he was, and Air21 really has no post player to watch out for.  They're going to rely heavily on outside shooting (they attempted 30 threes last game), especially with guys like Canaleta, Yeo, and Ritualo, among others. GlobalPort should be wary of that.

2.  GlobalPort rookie RR Garcia only shot 1/5 in his pro debut.  He will be able make at least 3 field goals in this game.

* With the first game jitters hopefully out of the way, RR will have a better showing this time.

3.  If Joseph Yeo and KG Canaleta are limited to a combined 30 points or less, GlobalPort wins the game.

* Yeo and KG scored 40 points between them in a losing effort against Barako Bull.

4.  The game will be decided by 8 points or less.

* I just have a feeling this will be a close game, hopefully with GlobalPort emerging victorious.

5. If Global Port scores 20 or more in at least 3 out of 4 quarters, they win the game.

* I'll try to make a habit of formulating my fifth predictions randomly and basically out of nowhere.

Roar Out.

Tidbits: GlobalPort vs Petron

Image courtesy of the PBA.

GlobalPort may have dropped their season-opener to the Petron Blaze Boosters 97-87, but I saw lots of positives.

Romeo is a baller.

Man was I impressed with this kid. I didn't get to watch many Romeo games when he was in college, but judging from his first PBA game, he's good as hyped! This kid, who by the way is currently the youngest in the league, was aggressive from the get-go.  He can really get into the lane at will and though he got denied a couple of times, he just kept on attacking.  He's flashy, he's got swag, and he's exciting to watch, and he can only get better.

Major Pain can still play. 

Eric Menk was a pleasant surprise.  He looks to be in tip-top shape and performed fairly well in his first PBA game after spending some time in the ABL.  He connected on a baseline jumpshot and scored on a nifty drive to the basket, finishing with 6 points and 5 rebounds.

Soul Wash.

Sol Mercado and Jay Washington will be GlobalPort's go-to-duo this season, and they showed in this game that they're capable of carrying the load.  Sol top-scored with 20 points and added 6 assists, while J-Wash was equally impressive, finishing with 15 points and 15 boards.

BATANG PIER OF THE GAME



Solomon Mercado - 20 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 8/13 FGs.

Sol was off to a hot start, scoring 17 points in the first half, but managed only 3 in the second half.  Still, he kept the team within striking distance early on and overall had a great game.  He seemed to have transitioned well to the 2 spot.



FLINTSKY PREDICTS

It's time to see how my predictions for this game went.

1.  If GlobalPort scores more than 90, they win the game.

 GlobalPort only scored 87, and lost.

2. The GlobalPort rookies will combine for at least 30 points.

 LA Revilla was demoted to the reserved list and Justin Chua received a DNP.  Romeo, Salva and Garcia combined for 20 points.

3. Jay Washington will post a double-double.

 Washington held his own against Petron's big men, finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

 4. If Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos are contained to a combined 25 points, GlobalPort wins.

 Santos scored 16, Fajardo added 15, for a combined 31 points. GlobalPort failed to hold them below 25, and lost the game. This one's a check for me.

5. If Sol Mercado scores more than 20, GlobalPort loses.

 Sol scored exactly 20 points, and GlobalPort loses. I did say 'more than 20' though, so this one's an X.

FlintSky's score - 3/5 - Passed.

That's a good start for me at least, but it would've been nice if GlobalPort grabbed the win.  Nonetheless, I'm quite satisfied with their showing.

Roar Out.