Cone calls Pringle, Romeo ‘Splash Brothers’ of PBA

GlobalPort’s backcourt tandem of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ginebra coach Tim Cone didn’t shy away from praising GlobalPort’s two-man power trip of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.

“They are special,” he said. “These guys are our version of the ‘Splash Brothers.'”

The duo terrorized the Gin Kings in the first half, combining for 6-of-10 shooting from three, before Cone placed Sol Mercado to hound them in the next two quarters.

Still, that performance left a mark on the legendary coach.

“They were shooting threes right in our faces. We really had to toughen up to them in the second half and did that,” he said. “Sol played tremendous defense. I hope I could break Sol in two and put him on Pringle and Romeo cause he’s the only guy, athletically and physically, who stayed with them.”

Mercado’s defense did the trick, as the Batang Pier duo finished the game with just three more triples than they made in the first half with Romeo missing all of his next six tries.

Despite the loss, Romeo is still humbled with the compliment from the multi-titled mentor.

“Gusto ko magpasalamat kasi galing yun sa isa sa mga pinakamagaling na coach sa atin na marami na ring napatunayan. Sana magampanan namin yun kung iyon ang nakikita nya sa amin.”

Pringle, meanwhile, is that his shooting, something which he really worked on in the offseason, has improved.

“I’ve been trying to work on my three game lately because I drive and a lot of people have been backing off me. Terrence is definitely there, but now that I’m starting to hit threes, you could say it a little bit that we could be (the ‘Splash Brothers’). But I’m still working on my shot,” he said.

Now it’s a matter of adjusting to the new system implemented by team consultant Franz Pumaren and new head coach John Cardel.

“Honestly, with the system and everything, we play hard and the effort is there. It’s just getting the fluidity with the system and I think it’s coming and you could see it,” said Pringle. “You’ve seen it today, so we just have to keep on staying together and focus on this next game.”

Romeo, who is coming off a stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Olympic Qualifier, also agreed that they need a little more gelling.

“Nandoon pa rin yung adjustment. Four days lang ako nag-practice so sa akin, may adjustment period pa.

“Siguro mas kailangan kong alagaan muna yung katawan ko at magfocus sa mga next game namin. Hopefully, matuto kami sa mga mistakes namin at mag-move forward lang.”