It’s all about Stanley Pringle

HAVE you heard of Stanley Pringle?

Well he could be at the root of all this lottery controversy that has erupted in the PBA.

Globalport governor Erick Arejola confided that he is going to be the Batang Pier’s first pick in this year’s rookie draft.

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao also had the same cager in mind, had Meralco, whose rights are owned by the Painters because of a prior deal, won the lottery Tuesday night.

Erick said Pringle is a Fil-Am who played for the Indonesia Warriors in the 2012 Asean Basketball League.

“He’s an excellent point guard. Unstoppable. He gave Indonesia its first ABL title.”

He was working on back-to-back titles for the Warriors when he got injured last year and was sidelined for several months after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus.

In his last season, Pringle was averaging 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists.

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I did not witness last Tuesday’s draw live. When I asked coach Yeng what made him suspect that something was amiss, he said it was very obvious.

“Just watch the video online. Obvious talaga!”

PBA Media Bureau head Willie Marcial said this is the second year that the David Copperfield setup is being utilized, but nobody remembers the first time a box covered by a black veil and three cheap balls were used as props.

There was no Meralco representative and coach Yeng said the commissioner’s office could have just requested somebody from Rain or Shine to witness the draw up close with Arejola.

“We were just there,” coach Yeng said.

I began to wonder if the representative from Pampanga was actually questioning the lottery process or the integrity of the PBA commissioner.

My colleague Flor Perez of Abante and UNTV said doubts could have been avoided if only Salud had raised his hand after he dropped the three balls inside the box.

“It’s that simple.”

From what I gathered, somebody had been tasked to drop the three balls inside the box but at the last minute, the commissioner decided to drop them himself.

He also drew the winning ball without lifting his hand from the box.

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HOOPVINE: The first game of the PBA championship series between Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee at Smart Araneta Coliseum was bumped off in favor of UNTV’s best-of-three title series being disputed by the AFP Cavaliers and the PNP Responders. The crowd seemed to be bigger than that at MOA Arena last Tuesday night… 14,000 warm bodies, according to scribe newscaster Flor Perez, who disclosed that P1.5 million is at stake to be donated to a charity of the champion’s choice.