Aggressive Pringle leads GlobalPort over Barako Bull

MANILA, Philippines – Rookie Stanley Pringle lived up to his billing as this season’s top overall draft pick after leading GlobalPort Batang Pier to a 91-81 win over the Barako Bull on Sunday, October 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pringle was named player of the game after finishing with 19 points and 9 rebounds on 8/15 shooting from the field.

Talking to the broadcast panel after the game, Pringle said he needed to be more aggressive.

When asked about the 2-3 zone defense that Barako used late in the game, he said it reminded him of how they dropped their last outing against the NLEX Road Warriors but this time they knew how to deal with it.

“As soon as we saw the zone we decided to get the ball up the floor as quickly as we can and get offense going early,” said the 27-year-old rookie. (READ: Top rookie Stanley Pringle makes impressive PBA debut)

Barako had plenty of opportunities to cut the deficit but misfired on two triple attempts.

Pringle would put the game away for good after he broke down Barako’s defense and dished off to Mark Isip for two points to give the Batang Pier a 10-point lead, 91-81 with 1:12 remaining.

Taking care of the lead

GlobalPort pulled away with over three minutes left to play in the third quarter.

Barako called a timeout after Alex Cabagnot hit a tough fadeaway bank shot but the gap didn’t help Barako at all as they failed to convert on offense and they got burned again by Cabagnot, this time on a pull-up trey, to put the Batang Pier ahead, 68-58.

Terrence Romeo then gave GlobalPort it’s largest lead of the ball game at 12, 70-58 when he converted a breakaway layup at the 2:48 mark of the third period.

But his former teammate MVP RR Garcia would not let the game slip away scoring on lay-ups and a three-pointer to cut the deficit to just 5 points, 72-67.

GlobalPort maintained there lead halfway into the 4th quarter thanks to unselfish basketball. Keith Jensen opened the final period for the Batang Pier with a jumper and those jumpers would continue to fall as the team patiently moved the ball around to find the open man.

Bigs Mark Isip and Noy Baclao would chip in easy baskets to give GlobalPort an 82-74 lead with 5:50 left in the game.

Anthony Semerad then hit a three-pointer at the 5:13 mark to give the Batang Pier another double-digit lead, 85-74.

A Denok Miranda hoop-and-harm basket would bring Barako to within 6, 87-81 with 2:50 left to play, but Cabagnot would have an answer right away to extend GlobalPort’s lead to 8, 89-81.

Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio acknowledged the team play. Speaking to media after the game, Jarencio lauded his squad’s effort.

“It’s a total team effort. Alex (Cabagnot) and Stanley (Pringle) stepped up,” said Jarencio.

The coach who was dealing with replacement rumors prior to the game echoed Pringle’s statement and took responsibility for their loss against the Road Warriors.

“Our loss against NLEX was a lesson learned,” he said.

The Batang Pier also won the rebound battle hauling down 59 boards against Barako’s 44.

Cabagnot vs Miranda

GlobalPort Batang Pier trailed early in the first quarter but a couple of good plays led by Cabagnot helped the team take the lead.

On one play, the Batang Pier ran pick-and-roll and Cabagnot found an open Baclao inside for the easy two. In the next play, Cabagnot took matters into his hands stopping and popping for a triple that bounced into the rim.

But Barako Bull came charging back early in the second quarter and eventually took the lead with about 10 minutes left in the period following a beautiful pass by RR Garcia to a cutting Dave Marcelo.

Nico Salva then starred in the next play finishing a fastbreak layup after a ball fake to put Barako on top, 31-25.

The Batang Pier took the lead back with about 5 minutes left to play in the second period following two made free throws by the athletic rookie Stanley Pringle and a zig-zagging basket by Fil-Am Keith Jensen, 36-33.

Cabagnot and Pringle would then take charge on offense for the Batang Pier scoring on jumpers, floaters, and strong drives to the hoop to the give GlobalPort an a 7-point advantage, 44-37.

But Denok Miranda and JC Intal would keep the game highlighted by an Intal dunk and a Miranda floater to beat the 1st half buzzer. Barako would end the 1st half down by just one, 48-47.

Cabagnot and Miranda ended the first 24 minutes of play with 12 points each for their respective teams.

Scores:

GLOBALPORT (91) – Cabagnot 21, Pringle 19, Isip 12, De Ocampo 12, Romeo 9, Jensen 7, Bacalao 6, Semerad 5, Taha 0, Buenafe 0, Duncil 0, Ponferada 0, Nabong 0.

BARAKO (81) – Miranda 16, Garcia 12, Marcelo 12, Fortuna 10, Intal 8, Lastimosa 6, Salva 5, Pascual 5, Lanete 5, Wilson 2, Salvador 0, Paredes 0, Pennisi 0.

Quarterscores: 25-21, 48-47, 74-67, 91-81

Here are some photos of the game taken by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

– Rappler.com