MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – As expected, Filipino American Stanley Pringle was drafted first overall by the Globalport Batang Pier while the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters opted for Gilas cadet Kevin Alas for the second overall pick in the 2014 PBA Rookie Draft on Sunday, August 24 at Midtown Atrium, Robinson’s Place Manila.
Pringle, a 6-foot-1 guard out of Penn State University, is set to join Alex Cabagnot, Terrence Romeo and Jay Washington to bolster a very young Batang Pier squad raring to finally rise from the cellar and improve on its two consecutive dead last finishes in the past two conferences.
Pringle played college ball at Penn State for two years from 2007 to 2009. In his first game for Penn State, he tied a Bryce Jordan Center and school record with his 7 steals. He was also awarded the 2007 Suncoast Conference Player-of-the-Year Award.
During his junior year playing for the university, Pringle started in 12 of his 31 games, and came up with 7 double-digit scoring games as well. He also shot 40.9% from beyond the arc – a team-best performance at the time.
(RELATED: Stanley Pringle has makings of a leader, says former coach)
The 27-year old Pringle played for the Indonesia Warriors in the ASEAN Basketball League in 2012 where he lead them to a championship with averages of 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
He also acquired international playing experience right out of college with his stint in the Basketball League Belgium as well as playing in Poland and Ukraine, norming double digit points per game.
Meanwhile, the 22-year old Alas out of Letran was among the guards pitted to take the second overall pick after reports emerged that Paul Lee wished to be traded when his contract expires. Alas is a Gilas cadet who suited up for Gilas Pilipinas during its FIBA Asia Cup stint last July.
Fil-Italian Chris Banchero, who was also expected to land the second overall pick, fell to fifth overall as selected by the Alaska Aces. Banchero played for Boracay Rum in the PBA D-League and topped all Day 1 pre-draft tests.
As the first round wound down, KIA head coach Manny Pacquiao drafted himself with the 11th overall pick, officially making him a part of the PBA and a playing coach come the league’s 40th season.
Pacquiao, however, was not present at the draft. He also missed the rookie draft combine a week prior.
Another Gilas cadet Matt Ganuelas Rosser, on the other hand, reunited with his D-League team as the NLEX Road Warriors selected him fourth overall.
Two Adamson Soaring Falcons also cracked the first round with Rodney Brondial going to Barangay Ginebra as the 6th overall pick and Jericho Cruz making his way to Rain or Shine as the 9th overall pick.
Below is a list of the first and second round draft picks:
First round
1. Globalport Batang Pier: Stanley Pringle
2. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (pick from Meralco): Kevin Alas
3. San Miguel Beermen (Barako Bull Energy traded pick to SMB for Chico Lanete, Jojo Duncil, second round pick 2014 and first round pick 2016): Ronald Pascual
4. NLEX Road Warriors: Matt Rosser Ganuelas
5. Alaska Aces: Chris Banchero
6. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel: Rodney Brondial
7. Globalport (San Mig Coffee gets a 2016 first round and 2018 second round. Globalport gets San Mig Coffee’s 2014 7th pick and 2016 second round pick): Anthony Semerad
8. Barako Bull (from Talk ’N Text): Jake Pascual
9. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters: Jericho Cruz
10. Barako Bull Energy (from San Mig Coffee): David Semerad
11. KIA Motors: Manny Pacquiao
12. Blackwater Sports: Juami Tiongson
Second round
13. Alaska Aces (from Meralco): Rome Dela Rosa
14. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (from Globalport): Kevin Espinosa
15. Barako Bull Energy: Philip Paredes
16. Alaska Aces (from Air21): Jun Jun Alas
17. Globalport (from Alaska): Prince Caperal
18. Barako Bull Energy (from Ginebra): Philip Morrison
19. Globalport (from Alaska, from Meralco, acquired from Petron): John Pinto
20. Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters: Harold Arboleda
21. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters: Mike Gamboa
22. Barako Bull (pick acquired from San Miguel): Gab Banal
23. Blackwater Sports: Frank Golla
24. KIA Motors: Kyle Pascual
– Rappler.com
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