Pringle ‘felt like a criminal’ after first career ejection

There’s always a first time for everything.

Stanley Pringle was ejected late in the third period in GlobalPort’s 99-91 loss to Blackwater on Wednesday, a first in his career.

Already charged with a flagrant foul penalty one, the 29-year-old guard was called for another one for landing spot as he tried to defend Mac Belo from three. He was ejected with just 2:21 left in the third quarter.

“First time I ever got ejected in my life. Sometimes, it happens like that,” he said.

Pringle made it clear that it wasn’t his intention to hurt, saying that the two flagrants are “both accidental.”

He also felt bad for the second one, as his ejection came while GlobalPort was trying to rally back from a 70-61 deficit.

“I was like, ‘Man, three shots (for Belo).’ And they were like, ‘No, you’re ejected.’ And I said, ‘Woah, ejected.’ That was the first time I got ejected. I went ahead to sit down (on the bench), they were like, ‘No, you have to leave the gym.’ I was like, ‘Oh man!’ I felt bad. I felt like a criminal. But the refs are just doing their job, both were accidental, but sometimes, ball rolls like that.”

Finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the loss, Pringle said that he still has to look at the tapes before he can comment on the outcome.

“I didn’t have a TV in the locker room so I didn’t see the game after I got ejected. I didn’t even watch it. I still got to watch it. I was looking for a TV. Where the TV at?,” he said.

Despite the loss, Pringle said that the Batang Pier must stay optimistic as they eye to close the year out with a win.

“You got to stay positive. Definitely, we have some things to correct on defense. We’re trying to pride ourselves on defense, but tonight, we didn’t have enough defense. That was the main issue, so maybe, we can tweak some things on offense, but mainly on the defense,” he said.

GlobalPort plays Phoenix next Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome.