Pringle shines anew as Globalport beats Barako Bull

Stanley Pringle of Globalport (light) vs Carlo Lastimosa of Barako Bull (dark). PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — Prized rookie Stanley Pringle continued to prove his worth and Globalport this time, held on to its lead for a 91-81 win over Barako Bull in the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pringle scored 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and grabbed eight rebounds as he looked more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie in just his second game in the PBA.

The Batang Pier lost in their first game to the NLEX Road Warriors despite holding a big lead late but experience taught them well not to fall under the same mistakes.

“It was a total team effort,” said Globalport head coach Pido Jarencio, whose team snapped an eight-game losing skid dating from last year’s Governors’ Cup. “Lesson learned. There were mistakes but totally that was on me.”

“The players really wanted to win. This is a morale-boosting win for the team and the players.”

Alex Cabagnot topscored with 21 points that went with nine rebounds and four assists for Globalport, which is looking for a major turnaround this season after winning only seven games the whole tournament last year.

Terrence Romeo, who fired 33 points in a loss to the Road Warriors, was held to nine points but Globalport’s big men stepped up with Mark Isip and Yancy de Ocampo scoring 12 apiece.

Denok Miranda had a team-high 16 points for the Energy, who dropped to 0-2 under new head coach Koy Banal.

Barako Bull trailed by as much as 12 but found itself within striking distance down by just six, 81-87, with still 2:50 remaining.

But Isip scored back-to-back short stabs — coming off assists by Cabagnot and Pringle — that kept the Energy at bay.

Pringle’s setup job to Isip pushed Globalport’s lead back to double digits, 91-81, with 1:12 left.

The game marked the first time long time teammates Romeo and RR Garcia at opposite benches after being on the same team since their college days in the UAAP.

Garcia finished with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench for Barako Bull.

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